Speech #980232549

We must also work to maintain international pressure on the Soviet leadership to change its policies. In particular. I would like to address the emigration policies of the Sorriet Union and the way in which these policies are used against Jews. First. however. I want to emphasize that the right to emigrate is well established in international law. The Soviet Union is itself party to treaties and agreements guaranteeing this right. and yet it continually denies or delays this right to its citizens. The case of the Taratuta family illustrates of official methods of harassment of those seeking to emigrate. The Taratutas are a Soviet Jewish family consisting of Abe Taratuta. his wife Ida. and their son Misha. They first applied for a visa In May 1973. Three months later they were notified that their application had been refused because Ida was subject to a "secret classification." This is a common excuse for refusing visas. and in this case it clearly had no foundation. Ida worked as a translator of English and American scientific articles. but at no time did she translate any classified articles. and all of the work she translated was freely available in libraries. In addition. she left her work before applying for a visa for fear her job might jeopardize her and her familys chances of being granted a visa. Obviously. her fear was well founded. but unfortunately. her preventive action did not pay off. Aba had also taken the precaution of resigning from his job before applying for a visa. A graduate of Leningrad University in mathematicsradio astronomy. he had worked as a mathematician in a government office. In June 1976. Aba was told that he would not receive a visa for at least 10 years. He was later called to the visa office and told that he and his family had no hope for obtaining visas for at least 10 years because he had been engaged in "secret" work. In January 1978. Aba was told by the KGB that he had been violating Soviet law for several years.