Speaker. I would like to thank my colleagues who have organized this special order. and take a moment to focus attention on the plight of Pavel and Marta Abramovich. Pavel and Marta first applied to emigrate from the Soviet Union in 1971. and their first and subsequent requests for emigration have all been denied on "security" grounds. However. in 1970. Pavel left his position as an engineer with Yausa Radio Technical Institute. and he has not worked in his profession since that time. Pavel was one of the first Hebrew teachers in the Soviet Union. having taught himself the language. and has been a leading Jewish activist in the Moscow refusenik community. As a result of his activities. he has been arrested and harassed by Soviet authorities on numerous occasions. The Abramovich family has been waging their battle to exercise their right to emigrate for more than 17 years. and they are now the longest waiting refuseniks still in the Soviet Union. The Abramovichs son. Felix. is now in Israel. and their brother and sister have recently been granted exist permission.
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emigrate emigration