The Soviet government has withheld a formal decision on whether it will grant Sen. Richard Stone (D.Fla.) a visa for an official trip to the Soviet Union, but it has not formally denied his application, the Senator said today.
Stone, a member of the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, applied for the visa to visit the Soviet Union Feb. 13-19. The State Department now says that it has been informed by the Soviet Embassy that it has returned his passport and is “holding” the visa application, Stone said.
Stone said he thinks the Soviet government does not want to “confront the issue of human rights with a direct refusal of my visa request.” He added that “its equivocal way of handling the matter underscores the increasing reports of violations of human rights and a severe crackdown on dissidents in that country.” Nevertheless, Stone said he is encouraged by the fact that his application was not officially turned down.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
