Speech #990038293

Mr. Speaker. this is a boldfaced and preposterous lie. There are at least ten thousand Soviet Jews actively seeking emigration. and not less than 250 Jewish families who have waited a decade or more for exit visas. Sadly. there runs a deep current of despair among these peoplefor they firmly believe that there is no future for them on Soviet soil. Reunification of families has also been hindered lately by an increase in administrative obstacles. 197980 appears to have been the turning point in Soviet emigration policy. To apply for exit permission. one must submit to the local Office of Visa and Registration a variety of documents. including an invitation from "first degree" relatives in Israel. A Soviet Jew might request several invitations before actually receiving one. since authorities often intercept them in the mail. Furthermore. each individual applicant must pay a fee of 40 rubles. which is approximately 1 weeks average salary. for every single family member seeking to emigrate. When an application is then approved. each family member must pay an additional 500 rubles. about 3 months income. for the "right." socalled to give up Soviet citizenship. and then 270 rubles for the exit visa. Thus. the financial burdens of emigration alone cause great hardships. All resources must be pooled. and personal possessions are often sold at depressed values to meet these demands. In addition. there is evidence that bribes must often be paid to minor officials at every step along this tortuous process. Finally. increasing numbers of applicants have been denied visas on the basis that. because they have been exposed to State secrets. they are a security risk. Other visa requests have been turned down because an applicant has more relatives in the U.S.S.R. than abroad. prompting officials to maintain that emigration would divide rather than reunite the family. Some applicants reportedly receive no reason at all for the denial of their visa requests. Aside from these very harsh restrictions. the Soviet Government has constantly relied on various forms of harassment to applicants and their families. In direct violation of the Helsinki accords. Soviet authorities make life miserable for visa applicants through repression that takes place in ways such as: The loss of employment. As soon as their desire to emigrate becomes known. they run the risk of either a reduced status or a total loss of work. This loss of employment makes it nearly impossible to find other work. thereby. forcing many "refuseniks" to accept any employment they can get. Thus. qualified teachers. scientists. and engineers are now working as street sweepers and lift operators.