I draw your attention to the case of mathematician Vladimir Lifshitz. arrested in the Soviet Union last month. Dr. Lifshitz had applied for visas for himself and his family 5 years ago. They were denied on the grounds of "insufficient kinship." Since being refused visas the family has suffered terribly. Vladimir was forced to leave his position as the head of the division of economic forecasting at the AllUnion Scientific Research Institute for the jewelry industry. After resubmitting his emigration application in December 1982. he was forced to resign from his second job. Although thier son Boris passed entrance exams to the Leningrad Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics. his application was not accepted. now he faces military conscription. In addition. the Lifshitz family has been repeatedly harassed by the KGB and threatened with arrest. Now that Dr. Lifshitz has been arrested. his familys situation can only decline as they await permission to reunite with their relatives in Israel. As a signatory to the Helsinki Final Act. the Soviet Union has pledged that its citizens may emigrate freely. The Soviets have not abided by this agreement. as attested to by this and too many other cases. Soviet Jews and other minorities continue to suffer persecution at the hands of Government Officials.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration visas