Lavigne. Though the Soviet authorities did nothing to block the marriage and originally allowed Sonias husband to stay in Moscow. Michael is now back in the United States and Sonia is still refused permission to emigrate. Sonia has been denied an exit visa 12 times since 1979. allegedly due to her fathers knowledge of state secrets. However. Sonia has seen her father only once since infancy. when her parents were divorced. Sonia has no knowledge of classified information. has never served In the armed forces. has committed no crimes. and has no outstanding debts. by Soviet law Sonia should be free to leave. However. she has been unable to do so and has faced a life of repression. Like many Jews who apply to emigrate. Sonia was forced to resign from her job as a design craftsperson. She does not hold any state employment. and even her freelance work was greatly curtailed after those paying for her work were harassed by various authorities. I sincerely hope that Sonia is soon allowed to emigrate to join her family. Another Jew struggling for the right to practice his religion is Victor Brailovsky. a prominent and respected member of the Moscow refusenik community. Playing an important role in the Jewish emigration and cultural movement. Victor was sentenced in 1981 to 5 years of internal exile on charges of "fabrications which defame the Soviet state and social system." Mr. President. imagine that crime or stated allegation and charge in the American courts.
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emigrate emigration visa