Thank you for this opportunity to speak on their behalf. The Katanov family. like so many other Soviet Jews trying to leave the Soviet Union. are classified as refuseniks. The term "refusenik" is an international word which describes a Soviet Jew who. having been consistently refused permission to emigrate to Israel. is harassed by the KGB. usually dismissed from work. and lives in fear of arrest and trumpedup charges which could result in imprisonment. Tashpulat first applied for a visa to emigrate to Israel on June 28. 1979. but was refused permission on August 25. 1979. Both Tashpulat. technician. and Lelia. economist. were immediately fired from their jobs. cutting them off from their sole source of income. When Tashpulat applied for a second time. he was once again denied permission to emigrate. without reason or explanation from Soviet authorities. The Katanov family suffers from another dilemma. As with all Jewish refusenik families. there is concern that as Igor gets close to finishing high school. he will become eligible for the military draft. If he refuses to serve. he could be imprisoned for up to 3 years. However. after being in the military for the required term. he could then be detained indefinitely on the grounds of knowing "military secrets." I need not remind you of the horror stories that have befallen Soviet Jews seeking to emigrate. As members of the U.S. House of Representatives. we must raise our voices in support of the plight of the Katanov family and other refuseniks who have been denied their fundamental freedoms.*
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emigrate visa