Yakov was released from prison in December On February 28. 1985. I went to the Soviet Embassy to discuss this case with Soviet authorities and was accompanied by Senator METZENBAUM. We forcefully made the case for Yakov and his family. and requested that he and his family be issued emigrant visas as soon as possible. We never received any type of response to our meeting at that time. I know that many of my colleagues have worked on or are working on difficult cases such as Yakovs. In fact because of the tremendous decline in emigration visas granted to Soviet Jews in recent years. there are many heartrendering cases like this. Yet we cannot give up. We must persevere. and take every possible step we can to provide these brave refusniks with moral support and encouragement because there is hope. We can. with the force of public expressions of concern. force the Soviet Union to allow refusniks to emigrate. Yakov Mesh and his family are free. The efforts that we make in bringing these cases to the attention of Soviet authorities can make a difference.
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emigrate emigration visas emigrant