Speaker. I would like to speak today regarding the continuing Soviet indifference to the human rights provisions of the Helsinki agreement. Example after example exists of Soviet indifference to individual and family requests for exit visas and official harassment of those who do seek. for whatever reason. to leave the U.S.S.R. During the 96th and the current Congress. we have learned about many incidents of Soviet abuse of individual rights. Today. I would like to offer several further examples. Emanuel Smeliansky is a 44yearold metallurgical engineer. When his family first applied for visas in 1970. both Emanuel and his wife. Alla. lost their jobs. Since then. they have experienced further harassment from Soviet officials. However. despite this abuse. the Smelianskys have continued in their efforts to secure visas. The Maryasin family is another example of Soviet disregard for the Helsinki agreement. Prior to 1972. Alexander Maryasin was a vice president in charge of production at a manufacturing plant in Riga. When he applied for an exit visa. Alexander was fired from his job and his daughter. Faina. was expelled from the university.
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