Speech #990066257

Speaker. on March 20 I joined with many of my colleagues as a participant in the Third Congressional Fast and Prayer Vigil for Soviet Jewry. As part of the fast and prayer vigil. I adopted Soviet refusnik Alec Zelichonok and his wife Galina. It has come to my attention that on June 11. Alec Zelichonok was arrested and charged with "defaming the Soviet state." The charge is based on appeals and letters he wrote to the Western nations. including a recent plea to participants in the Human Rights Expert Conference in Ottawa. The Soviet Government has repeatedly denied the Zelichonoks requests to emigrate to Israel. The Soviets most recent denial came in December 1983. Although Mr.