Speech #980194732

Whereas Nobel Laureate Andrei Sakharov. leader of the human rights movement in the Soviet Union. was arrested and exiled to Gorky in direct contravention of Principle VII of the Helsinki Final Act. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Whereas Doctor Sakharovs wife. Elena Bonner. has recently been detained and charged with antiSoviet agitation and is in urgent need of medical treatment unavailable in the Soviet Union. and Whereas Doctor Sakharov has. as a last resort. begun a hunger strike in an attempt to have the charges against his wife dismissed and so that she may be given the exit visa denied her in the past for the purpose of obtaining medical treatment abroad: Now. therefore. be it Resolved by the Senate fthe House of Representatives concurring). That it is the sense of the Congress that. in accordance with the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics should void all charges against Elena Bonner. issue her an exit visa for the purpose of obtaining medical care outside the Soviet Union. and allow Andrei Sakharov and Elena Bonner to live in the country of their choice. SEc. 2. The Congress urges the President(1) to protest. in the strongest possible terms and at the highest levels. the detention of and charges against Elena Bonner and the continued refusal of an exit visa for Mrs. Bonner. and to call upon the Soviet Union to meet the demands of Doctor Sakharovs hunger strike. (2) to call upon all other signatory nations of the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe to join in such protests and urge that the Sakharovs be allowed to emigrate to the country of their choice. SEc. 3. The Security of the Senate shall transmit copies of this resolution to the Soviet Ambassador to the United States and to the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.