Congress supports the cause of Soviet Jewry. We must focus international awareness on the struggle of Jews behind the Iron Curtain. We must uphold the provisions of international human rights agreements such as the Helsinki accords. which guarantee an individuals right to freedom of religion. cultural practices and emigration. We must raise these human rights issues at every appropriate international and political forum and hold Soviet authorities accountable for their despotic policies. Jews living in the U.S.S.R. today are engaged in a daily struggle for survival. The Soviet Union actively participates in programs to silence all the cultural activities of Jews and other minorities. Never before in the history of the Soviet Jewry movement has the emigration rate been so low. In 1979 over 51.000 Soviet Jews emigrated while in 1983 just over 1.300 were granted exit visas. In September. I officially committed myself to speaking out to help gain spiritual. intellectual. and physical freedom for Israel Achildiaev and his family. now denied the right to leave the Soviet Union. Over 4 years ago the Achildiaev family submitted applications for exit visas to Israel. Although Israel Achildiaevs parents were told they could leave. Israel and his young family were refused exit visas. No explanation was given. The parents of Israel Alchildiaev arrived in Israel on April 26. 1979. to join family living there since 1940. Although letters inviting rest of the Achildiaev family were sent to the Soviet authorities as instructed. the family was denied exit visas. No explanation for this refusal has yet been forthcoming from Soviet officials. Israel Achildiaev. his wife. and two young children. are victims of Soviet persecution and intransigence.
Keywords matched
emigration emigrated visas