In reality. Lev served as a private in a construction batallion and the major assignment his batallion was given was to complete the construction of a swimming pool. After having submitted their 1976 emigration application and thus declared their desire to leave Soviet life. the Elberts and their relatives have been subjected to harassment and imprisonment by Soviet authorities. In 1978. a Kiev newspaper even published a slanderous article accusing the Elberts of antiSoviet activity and branding them "traitors" and "dirty dogs." The beginning of 1980 brought some measure of hope for the Elberts when the Soviet OVIR declared that Lev Elbert would no longer be denied an exit visa on the grounds of having had prior access to classified information. But any hope was soon crushed when the OVIR proceeded to deny the emigration application because there was "insufficient kinship" in Israel. the Elberts destination. The Elberts had submitted an invitation signed by Innas brother in Israel. In subsequent years. relatives have been beaten. the Elberts house has been searched and ransacked by KGB agents.
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emigration visa