Many of my colleagues who have visited the Soviet Union and met with refuseniks have come to know the story of Abe Stolar. Abe was born in Chicago. IL. in 1911 and emigrated to the Soviet Union with his parents as a young man. Since 1974. Abe and his family have been waiting for permission to emigrate. In 1975. he and his family were granted permissionyet once they reached the airport. they were turned away by the visa office for an alleged error In Mrs. Stolars visa. Two weeks ago. it looked as if the Stolar family wasfinally going to be allowed to emigrate. But once again. the door of freedom was slammed shut In their face. The Soviet authorities had refused to grant an exist visa to one member of their family. As a result. the rest of the Stolar family turned down the opportunity to emigrate. In response to that situation. 40 of my colleagues joined in sending a telegram to Mr. Gorbachev asking that he intervene to allow the family to emigrate. Our request has so far fallen on deaf ears: today. Abe and his family are no closer to freedom than before. Simon Levin Is another Chicagoan who knows well the Kremlins policy of refusing its citizens the right to emigrate. In 1978. Simon wm allowed permission to leave the Soviet Union. with the understanding that his preg.. nant wife would soon be allowed to join him. Seven years later. Simon Is still waiting for his wife to be granted an exit visa. and has never seen his son Mark. Out of frustration and desperation over her situation. Simons wife.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigrated visa