Speaker. thank you for this opportunity to speak out against the oppression of 3 million Jews living in the Soviet Union. Many times my colleagues have joined me in denouncing the Soviet Governments treatment of its Jewish citizens. Despite our vigorous protests. the situation continues to worsen for Jews and other Soviets wishing to emigrate. In 1984. fewer Jews were granted exist visas than in any other year in almost two decades. 99.8 percent of all exit visa applications submitted by Soviet Jews were denied in 1984. Intimidation tactics and retaliatory acts by Soviet authorities against Jewish citizens brave enough to seek permission to emigrate also continue. Today. I would like to address the plight of one such citizen and his family. Alexander Maryasin of Riga. former manager of a huge factory. recipient of State awards and the title of "Honorable Citizen." was dismissed from his job in 1972 when his daughter Rita applied to emigrate to Israel. In 1974. after 2 years without reinstatement to his Job. Alexander. his wife Leah. and their daughter Faina also applied for visas in hopes they could join Rita who was by then in Israel. For the past 13 years. Alexander has been a leading refusenik in Riga. hosting cultural and religious events. and working on behalf of other refuseniks in his city.
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