Embassy in Moscow. Last spring one of their number. Lydia Vaschenkos. was persuaded to end a hunger strike and return home to Chernigorsk with the promise that she could reapply for emigration from the Soviet Union. The Soviet Government has continued its cynical cruelty. however. toward these people who want only to live where they can practice their Christian religion freely. Once out of international sight again in Chernigorsk. Lydia was told she would have to wait a year before reapplying to emigrate. and more recently that the entire two families would have to return to Chernigorsk before any of them could be considered for emigration. In their heartbreaking frustration. Lydia and a sister have begun a new hunger fast in Chernigorsk. as have their mother and onother sister still in our Embassy in Moscow. These two tormented families should know that we continue to be concerned about their plight. On their behalf I again call upon the Soviet Government to change its attitude toward the Vaschenkos and Chmykhalovs. The prestige of the Soviet state could only improve by allowing their emigration.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration