Speech #980255562

I would like to take a moment to draw my colleagues attention to the plight of longtime refusenik Aleksandr Yakir and to commend an unprecedented coalition of Jewish leaders and Christian. civil rights. peace and human rights groups for their actions on Mr. Yakirs behalf. Aleksandr Yakir and his parents have been trying to emigrate from the Soviet Union since October 1973 and for the past 7 years. Aleksandr has been filing for exit permission on his own. Aleksandr has been refused permission on "humanitarian grounds" because the authorities "do not want to split up families." In addition. Aleksandr has been convicted of draft evasion and now faces up to 3 years of imprisonment. it is ironic that Aleksandr refused to be inducted into the military because he did not want to be exposed to "state secrets." thus giving the Soviets further excuse to delay granting him permission to emigrate. Aleksandrs plight has been given special attention by members of a unique coalition of leaders who have recently sent cables to Soviet officials protesting his arrest. trial. and conviction on charges of draft evasion. The group has also urged the Soviet Government to grant the Yakir family permission to immigrate to Israel. I am glad that the coalition has added some new voices to the cause of Soviet Jewry. and I urge them. along with all of us in the U.S. Congress. to continue speaking out for the rights of Soviet Jews such as Aleksandr Yakir.e