Mr. President. recent figures provided to me by concerned citizen organizations confirm the ominous trend against the granting of emigration rights by Soviet authorities to Jewish citizens. Last Octobers figures mark the lowest point since comprehensive statistics were first kept more than one decade ago. In October 1981. only 368 Soviet Jews were permitted to leave the Soviet Union. This averages out to a yearly total of less than 4.500. as compared to 21.471 last year and 51.320 in 1979. The terrible truth is that Jewish citizens of the Soviet Union who are seeking to exercise the emigration rights guaranteed by the 1975 Helsinski accords are being used by Soviet authorities as pawns in a geopolitical game. Since United StatesSoviet relations have worsened. mistreatment of Jews in the U.S.S.R. has become more harsh. But many Americans find it difficult to support steps to improve United StatesSoviet relations. so long as such grave human rights abuses continue. Thus Soviet Jews are caught in a cruel catch22. When I was in the Soviet Union last September on a factfinding mission with Senator CHARLES MATHIAS. I met with leaders of the Jewish community in Moscow including "Refuseniks." Jews whose right to emigrate has repeatedly been denied by Soviet authorities. This was a deeply moving and troubling experience and a heartrending reminder of the difficulties these people face. Many have been denied their Helsinki emigration rights for nearly a decade. Otherssuch as Anatoly Shcharanskys mother and brotherwere deeply concerned about the safety of family members imprisoned by the Soviets. In fact. at that time.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration