Mr. President. the plight of Soviet Jews denied the right to emigrate is always on our minds. We learn the names of these individuals from their relatives and friends and from others concerned about the denial of their rights. I wish to draw the attention of my colleagues today to the case of Lev and Nadya Ovsischer. Eleven years have elapsed since Lev Ovsischer and his wife Nadya first applied to emigrate to Israel. Since then they have been continually harassed by the KGB. their telephone has been disconnected and correspondence has been stopped from reaching their home. Colonel Ovsischer. a highly decorated fighter squadron commander in World War II. has been stripped of his military rank and deprived of his pension. Lev and Nadya Ovaischer simply seek pern.ission to emigrate to Israel where they can join their daughter. live freely and practice their religious faith. The Soviet Government claims that Lev Ovaischer possesses military secrets. However. he is 20 years removed from service in the army and therefore this claim is ludicrous. Thirtynine years ago. on March 5. the Nazi occupiers murdered 5.000 Jewish residents of Minsk. the same city in which Lev and Nadya Ovsischer now live. Eleven years ago. also on March 5. the Ovsischers applied for exit visas. Families in six American cities and five other countries are planning to take special note of the anniversary this year. In remembering the genocide of the past. we must also note that basic human rights are tragically denied by the Soviets at present. I urge mr colleagues to join me in appealing to the Soviet authorities to observe the right of family reunification guaranteed in the Helsinki accords. a right denied to Lev and Nadya Ovsischer and to so many others like them.
Keywords matched
emigrate family reunification visas