Soviet Jewish Emigration a Record 71,196 in 1989 Under Gorbachev Rule
WASHINGTON — About 71,196 Jews were allowed to leave the Soviet Union in 1989, 20,000 more than the record emigration year of 1979, a leading Jewish group said Tuesday.
“Nineteen eighty-nine has proven to be the record year to date for Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union,” said Shoshana Cardin, chairman of the National Conference on Soviet Jewry.
“We trust that 1990 will also prove to be a milestone year and one in which we will witness the resolution of (an estimated 200) outstanding cases of long-term refuseniks and poor relatives,” Cardin added.
The conference, which keeps detailed records on Soviet Jewish emigration, said the 1989 total of 71,196 compared to 18,965 in 1988 and 51,320 in 1979--the benchmark against which such figures had previously been measured.
After years of repression, Soviet policies toward emigration have eased since 1985 when Mikhail S. Gorbachev came to power.
The Supreme Soviet in November gave initial approval to a new law codifying new emigration freedoms and is expected to complete action on the legislation in late February or early March, conference spokesman Jerry Strober said.
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