I would like to take this short time today to call to your attention a heartening development in the case of Alexander Paritsky. A Soviet physicist. Paritsky was condemned to 3 years in a Soviet labor camp for allegedly not filling his work order. and "defaming the Soviet state" by attempting to obtain a visa to live with his family in Israel. Alexander Paritsky has been released from the labor camp after 3 years of physical. mental. and emotional anguish. Paritskys release is encouraging. but his struggle. and that of all the Soviet Jews. is far from over. In violation of the Helsinki Final Act. the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. and their own constitution. the Soviet government continues to restrict arbitrarily the emigration rights of Soviet Jews. In fact. their plight is worsening. In 1979 the Soviets allowed 51.370 Jews to emigrate. in 1984 only 1.314 were allowed. Paritskys ultimate emigration. and that of thousands of others. remains a matter of great doubt. The 1984 Congressional Call to Conscience Vigil is a manifestation of our continued support for the rights and freedom of Soviet Jews. The Soviet Government must know that we. who share the oppression of these people. will not rest until their fundamental human rights are recognized.
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emigrate emigration visa