I wish to call to the attention of this House the plight of Ilya Vaitzblit. It is in many ways typical of so many Soviet Jews. He first applied to emigrate in 1973. but his application was refused on the pretext of his alleged access to classified material. He has repeatedly made application since 1973. and each time has been denied. Ilya has suffered from multiple sclerosis since 1966. This fact Is acknowledged by the Soviet authorities. as he was declared by a Soviet medical commission to be an invalid of the "first group" (completely disabled patients. obtaining their livelihood through permanent support from others). Presently he is nearly deaf. half blind and confined to bed with his limbs paralyzed. Ilyas son and brother have already emigrated to Israel. and his hope and theirs is to be reunited before he dies. It is difficult to imagine that a regime can be so unfeeling toward humanitarian cases. With nothing to gain by continuing to hold Ilya. the Soviet regime nonetheless proceeds in this Insanity. The position of Soviet Jews is essentially an ostracism in their own country. Unable to practice fully their religion. they are also denied permission to emigrate to Join their fellow believers. The cries of the world to end this repression are met with silence. and the numbers of Jews allowed to emigrate Is reduced. Today. as we recall the plight of all Soviet Jews. I ask that you consider the case of Ilya Vaitzblit. The pain that he suffers by the uncertain future of his request to emigrate is a pain that many feel. As Members of Congress. we must continue to speak out against this reprehensible Soviet activity and against this violation of the Helsinki Final Act.*
Keywords matched
emigrate emigrated