Mr. President. the number of Soviet refuseniks wishing to emigrate from the Soviet Union is astounding. Today. the number nears 400.000. As long as these individuals remain on Soviet soil they become pawns in their governments harassing activities. Their lives are in constant swing as their hopes for an exit visa are raised and then quickly lowered. Each time these Soviet Jews apply for an exit visa they lose their jobs and become subject to religious and political persecution. The Soviet Government still refuses to allow the Soviet Jews to study Hebrew or practice their religion. Naum Meiman has been a Soviet refusenik for over a decade. He has experienced much fear and anguish during his struggle for freedom. His only desire is to emigrate to Israel and finally live in peace. The Soviet Union is one of 35 nations that signed the 1975 Helsinki accords. Those agreements were seen as guaranteeing reunification of families and obligates the signatories to grant exit visas to all individuals wishing to leave. It is time for the Soviet Government to take action. I strongly urge the Soviet Union to allow Naum Meiman permission to emigrate to Israel.9
Keywords matched
emigrate visas visa