The group was set up to monitor the Soviet Unions compliance with the human rights provisions of the Helsinki accords. Those accords. signed in 1975 by the Soviet Union. included provisions that "everyone has a right to leave any country. including his own" and that "participating states will deal in a positive and humanitarian spirit with the applications of persons who wish to be reunited with their family." Within months of joining the Helsinki Monitoring Group. Anatoly was arrested on charges of espionage as part of a Soviet campaign to taint the Jewish emigration movement with the charge of treason. He was 29. In 1978. he was sentenced to 3 years in prison and 10 years of hard labor for antiSoviet agitation. treason. and espionage for the Central Intelligence Agency. Almost 9 years later. he was set free. Anatoly "Natan" Shcharansky was not a spy. His real crime was his courageous activity on behalf of wouldbe Jewish immigrants. Using his wit and excellent command of English. he served as a spokesman and public relations person in Moscow for the Jewish emigration movement. Knowing full well that his activity would probably lead to prison. he nevertheless contacted Western correspondents. arranged press conferences. and translated statements to win publicity for the plight of Soviet Jews seeking to emigrate. He even advised Soviet Jews who had been turned down for exit visas on how to use the law and bureaucratic procedures to needle the authorities. Once imprisoned. he did not lose hope or lose heart. Although he was in physical custody. his Soviet jailers never enslaved his spirit.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration immigrants visas