Speech #970141674

Mr. Speaker. some months after Sergey and Leonid Rudin applied to emigrate from the Soviet Union in 1977. their request was granted and in March 1978. they left for the United States where Sergey now studies computer science at the California Institute of Technology and Leonid is a Ph. D. candidate in physics at Brandeis University. While Sergey and Leonids departure from the Soviet Union for the United States was a success. the tragedy of their story lies in the fact that their parents. Berta. 56. and Yakov. 54. were forced to remain behind. When Sergey and Leonid submitted their applications for an exit visa. Berta and Yakovs applications were not accepted. Since that time. the Soviet authorities have always found some excuse to deny their exit request. For instance. in 1979. their application was rejected beause their niece In Israel who had formally invited them did not meet newly imposed criteria limiting emigration to "close relatives." Hoping to qualify by having their sons Sergey and Leonid file the appropriate invitation from the United States. the U.S. Government forwarded an official invitation on their behalf in November 1979. but the immigration authorities in the Soviet Union refused to recognize the legitimacy of the invitation. In May 1981. Berta and Yakov Rudin applied to leave once again.