Iosef Begun. Although Dr. Begun has spent most of the last 8 years in Soviet jails. the only "crimes" of which he is guilty are wanting to immigrate to Israel and struggling to preserve the Jewish culture in the Soviet Union. Since 1971 when Dr. Begun first applied for an exit visa to leave the Soviet Union. he has been consistently persecuted by the Soviet Government. Dr. Begun has made repeated attempts to obtain an exit visa but all of his requests have been rejected by the Soviet Government. In addition. he has been arrested and convicted several times on charges such as "antiSoviet agitation and propaganda." In June of this year. he was sentenced to spend 6 months in solitary confinement for violating camp regulations and not completing his work quota. These actions taken by the Soviet Government against Dr. Begun represent a callous disregard for basic human rights and a direct violation of the letter and the spirit of the Helsinki Accords. We in Congress cannot ignore the treatment of thousands of Soviet Jews. like losef Begun. who are persecuted for their beliefs and their desire to emigrate. We must not cease in our efforts until every single Soviet Jew who wants to leave Russia is permitted to do so.9
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emigrate immigrate visa