Mr. Speaker. today I join with many of my colleagues in urging the Soviet Union to grant visas to Vladimir Slepak and his wife. The continued repression and denial of emigration visas to this family is yet another example of the Soviets disregard for basic human rights and nonadherence to the Helsinki accords. The Slepak family is but one example of the social injustice committed by the Soviet leadership against citizens whose only desire is to leave the U.S.S.R. After filing for an emigration visa in April 1970. the Slepaks existence has become a living nightmare. Vilified by the press and labeled a traitor by Soviet leaders. the Slepaks were arrested in June 1978 on charges of "hooliganism" for hanging a banner from their apartment proclaiming "Let us go to our son in Israel." Following a closed courtroom trial. the Slepaks were sentenced to 5 years in exile. Today they share an unheated
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emigration visas visa