The Helsinki accords establish a point of reference not only for governmenttogovernment relations. but also for the relationship between government and the governed. In the first 4 years after the Helsinki accords were signed. there seemed to be a slight general improvement in Soviet human rights behavior: In 1979. Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union reached the record level of over 51.000. despite numerous arrests. unofficial human rights organizations were allowed to exist. Coinciding with the invasion of Afghanistan. however. the Soviet Government decided on a radical change of course which took effect in 1980: Soviet emigration rates plummeted. Soviet jamming of Western radio broadcasts resumed to protect the Soviet people from news about Polish Solidarity. imprisonment of Soviet national. religious. economic. and political rights advocates soared. and harsh new Soviet laws were passed to further discourage free expression and contacts with foreigners. Today. 48 members of the citizens Helsinki Monitoring Groups are serving long terms in Soviet camps. prisons. and psychiatric hospitals.
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emigration