While we cannot help but be joyful at seeing Anatoly finally released. we must not forget the cynical and inappropriate manner in which the Soviets set him free. associating him with espionage activities to the end. That they chose to allow him to go in such a manner can only remind us of their long history of lack of respect for human rights and the personal dignity of the individualsomething that I saw only too clearly first hand during my trip to the Soviet Union in October 1985. If there is any question of the Soviets failures on the human rights front. we need only recall the hundreds of thousands of Soviet Jews who wish to leave the U.S.S.R. today. but are denied the right to emigrate. While we celebrate Anatolys release. we must also remember the many other prisoners of conscience. too numerous to name here. who still languish in the gulag. Perhaps this incident. along with other recent events including some limited action on the divided spouse issue. does represent the first small step toward a more enlightened Soviet policy on Soviet Jewry and human rights. If so. let us do our utmost to encourage further deeds. The best way to do that is by making sure that we do not relax our vigil on behalf of the many other human rights and religious activists and persons seeking to emigrate. If. conversely. Anatolys release represents an attempt to obtain a propaganda victory. then we must expose it for what it is and pressure the Soviets all the more.
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