Mr. Speaker. I join my distinguished colleagues in calling for the release of Soviet refusenik Anatoly Shcharansky. Today marks the fifth anniversary of Anatolys imprisonment by the Soviet Government on charges of treason. Yet. his only crime was his request to emigrate with his wife. Avital. to Israel. Just 1 day after the couples July 4. 1977. wedding. Avital was forced to leave the Soviet Union for Israel. She was told that her husband would soon be permitted to follow. It has now been 5 years that Avital has been waiting for her husband. He has spent that time in labor camp and prison. most recently being accused of "continuing to consider himself not guilty." Anatolys only visitors in the last 16 months have been his mother and brother who were allowed to spend 2 short hours with him in January of this year.
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emigrate