Mr. Speaker. today I have the honor of meeting Iosif Mendelevich. freed from a Soviet prison and allowed to emigrate last February. f and I would like to take a moment t hail this hero in our midst. t Many of my colleagues and I workec V very hard to help bring about his free s dom. and his presence today make s this a very special occasion. Mr. Men .- delevich. one of the many who hav f suffered at the hands of the Soviets r was imprisoned for attempting t( i hijack a commercial aircraft as r means of escaping Russia. While th( _ leaders of this supposed plot. who hac been given much longer sentences - were released and allowed to emigrate L Mr. Mendelevich and two others werc s unfairly kept in confinement until early this year. Tragically. those of us who battle or behalf of the men and women such a - Iosif Mendelevichwhom the Soviets treat harshly. inhumanely. and inequi. . tablyall too rarely see the fruits o1 - our labors. Mr. Mendelevichs presence _ reminds us that our continued efforts are meaningful and absolutely imperas tive. Despite the intransigence of the Russians. despite falling emigration numbers. his hardwon freedom gives us renewed optimism in our efforts and commitment to freeing our brethren imprisoned in the Soviet Union. Thank you. Mr.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration