Speech #1010024694

Ilya. born in 1962. and Slava. born in 1968. In 1979. the Uspenskys asked permission to leave the U.S.S.R. Soviet authorities not only refused them visas to emigrate to Israel. they also isolated Inessa and Igor from their scientific contacts and even threatened colleagues who remained in touch with them. After a lengthy campaign for their dismissal. the institute declared the Uspenskys "redundant." and by the end of 1983 they were without professional employment. Visitors reported in January 1984 that Inessa had no job outside the home. and Igor was working parttime as an elevator operator. He continually worried that he might lose even that employment. since KGB agents were telephoning at intervals checking. on his position. His fears were wellfounded. he did lose his job on December 31. 1986. In July 1987. the Uspenskys again asked permission to emigrate and were again refused. this time on grounds of "state security." under Soviet emigration regulations issued in January 1987 permitting officials to deny emigration to applicants having knowledge of "state secrets." Use of this regulation in the case of the Uspenskys was highly questionable. since Igors work at the institute had never given him contact with classified material. Beginning January 1. 1988. all Soviet Jews were required to provide evidence of firstdegree relatives abroad in order to become eligible to apply for emigration. Under this requirement. the Uspenskys son. Slava. was informed on January 19. 1988. that his application to leave the Soviet Union could not be authorized. Later that same year. the entire Uspensky family was told they could not apply for emigration again until 1997. on the grounds. this time. that Igors mother. Irina Voronkevich. held "state secrets." Since Irina. born in 1912. left her work at the Ministry of Agriculture in 1976. the Soviets in effect are claiming that she will possess classified secrets for 9 more years. until she is 85 years of age and has been out of government employment for 21 years. Mr.