A reporter for the Dutch daily, Handelsblod, who attended the Olympic Games in Moscow, reported today that three Soviet Jews ended their 16-day hunger strike last weekend. Frits Schaling, the reporter, said the three staged their hunger strike in protest against the refusal of Soviet authorities to grant them exit visas to Israel.
According to Schaling, the three hunger strikers were Dina Grossman, 25, Vladimir Brodsky, 36 and Igor Vinogradov. Grossman and Vinogradov applied for exit visas more than a year ago and Brodsky applied for a visa almost two years ago. The three never received a reply to their requests but, instead, were fired from their jobs, Schaling reported.
He said he personally saw Grossman at the end of her hunger strike and said she was extremely emaciated. During her 16-day hunger strike she last 24 pounds. She weighed 120 pounds when she began her strike.
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.
