I wish to add my strong support for the measure now before us. The brutal attacks of the Soviet Government against those who wish to practice their religions and those who seek permission to leave the Soviet Union are reminiscent of darker days in Soviet history when rule by fear and terror characterized the regime of Joseph Stalin and other notorious leaders. Ostensibly. the Soviet Government has progressed from its violent past by joining many other nations in signing the Helsinki accords and other international declarations respecting religious freedom and the right to emigrate. In fact. official Soviet policy seems to have regressed. The godless policy of Russification. which is a blatant attempt to destroy religious traditions in all of the Soviet Republics. is one example of Soviet contempt for international agreements respecting religious freedom. Harassment and imprisonment of Soviet Jews. Ukranian Catholics. and other groups are well documented and provided further evidence of official disregard for government promises to insure freedom of religion and the freedom to emigrate. An entire family of Russian Pentacostals has chosen to live in a selfimposed prison in our Embassy in Moscow rather than continue to live in constent fear of Soviet persecution. It is imperative that we make Soviet human rights violations a key part of our foreign policy and that we continue to use our freedom to speak out against these violations in every available forum.
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emigrate