The World : Refusenik Slepak in Vienna

Vladimir Slepak, who struggled longer than any other refusenik to leave the Soviet Union, arrived in the West with his wife and said that freedom after a 17-year wait was “like a dream.” Slepak, who turns 60 on Thursday, embraced his son, Alexander, upon his arrival in Vienna after a flight from Moscow. He was greeted by several U.S. dignitaries, including Sen. John Heinz (R-Pa.), a member of the congressional subcommittee that monitors compliance with the Helsinki accord on human rights. Slepak said that he and his wife, Maria, will go to Israel after a day or two in Vienna. Speaking of the plight of Soviet Jews, he said: “This is not a final victory. It’s a little victory we achieved together.”