Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 95.djvu/1805

 CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS—DEC. 15, 1981

95 STAT. 1779

ALEXANDER PARITSKY—U.S. SUPPORT FOR RELEASE FROM PRISON IN U.S.S.R.

Dec, is, i98i [H. Con. Res. 215]

Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee to ^ 1 citizens the rights to freedom of religion, the right to hold opinions without interference, the right to freedom of expression, and the right to emigrate; Whereas the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe commits the signatory nations to respect individual rights and freedom, specifically the right to immigrate to the country of one's choice to rejoin their relatives; Whereas the Soviet Union has signed the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, is a party to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and has ratmed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; Whereas Alexander Paritsky and his family first applied to emigrate from the Soviet Union in 1976 and have been repeatedly denied permission; Whereas Alexander Paritsky was dismissed from his position as a scientist at the Kharkov Institute for Metrology in 1977 as a direct result of requesting permission to emigrate; Whereas Alexander P a r i t s ^ and his family have been continually harassed by Soviet authorities as a result of his involvement in the Kharkov Jewish University; Whereas Soviet officials have confiscated numerous books, letters, and medicines from the Paritsky's apartment; Whereas Soviet officials have published slanderous articles in the Kharkov press accusing Alexander Paritsl^ of black marketeering and racism; Whereas Dorina ParitsJ^, aged fifteen, has been harshly interrogated by Soviet investigators at her school and told to denounce her family; Whereas Paulina Paritsl^ has been threatened with arrest and informed that she will lose custody of her two daughters; Whereas Alexander Paritsky was arrested on August 28 and charged with anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda; Whereas Alexander Paritsky is scheduled to be tried by Soviet officials on November 11 and has been denied the legal counsel of his choice; and Whereas Paulina Paritsky was forcefully prevented from obtaining an independent lawyer for her husband: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring. That it is the sense of the Congress that the {Resident, acting direcuy or through the Secretary of State, should— (1) continue to express at every suitable opportunity and in the strongest terms the opposition of the United States Government to the imprisonment of Alexander Paritsky; (2) urge the Government of the Soviet Union to— (A) release Alexander Paritsky from prison, (B) halt all further harassment of Alexander Paritsky and his family, and

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