Speech #970252276

Mr. Speaker. I wish to call to the attention of the House of Representatives the continuing plight of a Jewish family who have been refused permission to emigrate from the Soviet Union. Leonid Shabashev and his family have been "refuseniks" since 1974. Like other members of Soviet religious and ethnic minorities. their legitimate wishes have been thwarted by their Government. The case of each refusenik is. of course. tragic. the Shabashevs bear the additional burden of the recent drowning death of their 15yearold daughter. Their fondest hope now is to emigrate and start a new lifefather. mother. and younger daughterliving free from harassment and persecution. The granting of emigration visas to refuseniks would be a wise move for Soviets. for it would soften their confrontationist stance toward the rest of the world. The Soviets. like all governments. cannot afford an image of brutal disregard for human rights. My colleagues and I work to bring the stories of these refuseniks into the public forum. we urge the Soviet authorities to respect the rights of those who wish to emigrate. we remind the U.S.S.R. of its commitment to the Helsinki accords. We continue to walt for the happy news that permission has been granted. to the Shabashev family and to others. to live as they choose.*