Situation of Jews in the Soviet Union
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly debate on 26 September 1985 (10th Sitting) (see Doc. 5445, report of the Committee on Relations with European Non-Member Countries). Text adopted by the Assembly on 26 September 1985 (10th Sitting).
- Thesaurus
The Assembly,
1. Recalling its
Resolution 412 (1969) on the situation of Jews in European non-member countries, its Recommendations 632 (1971), 722 (1974), 778 (1976), and its Resolutions 679 (1978), 740 (1980) and 795 (1983) on the situation of Jews in the Soviet Union ;
2. Noting that the Soviet Union has adhered to many international conventions and agreements, as well as the Helsinki Final Act, which guarantee freedom of emigration and cultural expression ;
3. Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which guarantees personal freedom, protection against arbitrary arrest and discrimination, the right to independent and impartial tribunals, and freedom of religion and freedom of movement and the right to change nationality ;
4. Recalling the guarantees protecting the rights of minorities contained in the Soviet Constitution, and the obligations of the Soviet Union under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which stipulates that everyone shall be free to leave any country, including his own ;
5. Concerned over the precariousness of the situation of Jews in the Soviet Union, notably their difficulties in exercising their religion and culture, including studies of the Hebrew language ;
6. Alarmed over the continued harassment, trials and imprisonment of Jews seeking permission to emigrate to Israel or other countries ;
7. Noting with concern the continued anti-Semitism prevailing in many areas of Soviet life ;
8. Noting therefore that the Jews in the Soviet Union are an oppressed cultural minority, and recognising this situation as a cause for international concern ;
9. Noting that since 1968 more than 260 000 Jews living in the Soviet Union have left the country, but regretting that since 1979, when over 51 000 Jews were permitted to emigrate, the annual figure of emigration has been reduced and was limited in 1984 to 896 ;
10. Recalling that more than 350 000 Jews have expressed their wish to leave the Soviet Union, but have not obtained exit permits,
11. Calls upon the Soviet Government :
11.1 to allow Jews in the Soviet Union to live free from discrimination, and to enjoy the right to exercise their Jewish religion, their cultural traditions and to teach and learn the Hebrew language ;
11.2 to cease the diffusion of anti-Jewish propaganda ;
11.3 to release all Jewish prisoners of conscience ;
11.4 to allow those Jews who want to emigrate to Israel or to other countries to do so ;
12. Calls upon members of the Assembly to continue intervening within their national parliaments and with their governments to press for Soviet compliance with the demands put forward in this resolution.
