Julia and Alla. ages 8 and 6 respectively. have submitted their application to leave the Soviet Union on four different occasions. Each time. their applications has been denied. "State secrets" was the trumpedup chargethe false accusationthat allowed Sovet authorities to keep the Ghinises in the U.S.S.R. in In a country where the gift of freedom is taken largely for granted. it is difficult for us to understand the plight of politically oppressed people. much less conceive of individuals being threatened with loss of life. loved ones. employment. and imprisonment because of their religion. nationality. political affiliation or desire to live elsewhere. Since making human rights a matter of international concern by signing the Helsinki accords in 1975. the Soviet Union has denied 235.900 emigration requests. The only way a Soviet citizen can leave the Soviet Union is at the invitation of a close relative outside the Soviet Union and even then the Soviet Union must agree to send emigration forms to the relative. According to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. since signing Helsinki in 1975. 381.700 invitations have been sent out but only 145.800 people have been allowed to leave. The Ghinis family is a perfect example of how the Soviet Union fails to abide by its promise to respect "human contact." "freer movements of people." and "the right of the individual to know and act upon his rights." By preventing the Ghinises from leaving. the Soviet Union makes a mockery of its promises and continues to violate the Helsinki agreements.
Keywords matched
emigration