Vladimir and Maria hung a protest banner from the balcony of their Moscow apartment on June 1. 1978. It read: "Let Us Go to Our Son in Israel." This plea should not have been necessary and would not have been if the Soviets lived up to the obligations they assumed by signing the Helsinki Final Act in 1975. This plea. however. exposed the farce of Soviet respect for human rights: The Slepaks were arrested and charged with "malicious hooliganism." and their banner was destroyed. Maria was given a suspended sentence. while Vladimir was sentenced to 5 years in internal exile. Although Leonid and his family were at long last permitted to emigrate to Israel in
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