Inna Meiman-Kitrossky
Encyclopedia
Inna Meiman-Kitrossky was a refusenik
, a member of a group of refusenik
s-cancer
patients, and an author of textbooks for the English language.
, where she worked for many years teaching English. This experience resulted in being awarded a Ph.D. and also in two textbooks: (English as a second foreign language (basic level)), (Modern English (advanced level)), which was in usage in several Russian Universities. Meiman also translated from English to Russian and vice versa. She was married for several years and had a son.
In 1987 she applied for an exit visa for the first time, but after two years of waiting, she was refused. In 1981 she married the refusenik and activist for human rights, Naum Meiman
, and became active in this field as well. She also started to teach Russian to foreigners, including the personnel of US embassy. The Meimans were under surveillance by the KGB
, which disconnected the telephone in Meiman's flat and also searched their home.
In 1983 she was diagnosed with cancer which progressed quickly, requiring several surgeries. Naum Meiman worked hard to enable his wife to go abroad for treatment. Inna Meiman then joined the group of refuseniks-cancer patients. A campaign to help her gradually accelerated, which was joined by US Senators Gary Hart
and Paul Simon
. Inna Meiman met many people from abroad, and gave an interview to foreign TV. A young American student Lisa Paul, who was very impressed by Inna, held a 25-day hunger strike to bring attention to her case.
In 1987, at the inception of Perestroika
, she was finally allowed to leave. Inna Meiman arrived in the US, but died after several weeks in February, 1987 in Georgetown (Washington, D.C.). Naum Meiman was not allowed to attend her funeral in Washington D.C.
25 years later Lisa Paul published a book of memoirs about Inna Meiman. Inna's Meiman life is a dramatic episode in the history of the refusenik movement and helped to expose the internal policy of the Soviet Union in the latter part of its existence. Naum Meiman died in Tel-Aviv, Israel
in 2001. Inna's son and seven grandchildren have lived in Israel since 1987.
Refusenik
Refusenik originally referred to citizens of the former Soviet Union who were refused permission to emigrate.Refusenik or refusnik may also refer to:*An Israeli conscientious objector, see Refusal to serve in the Israeli military...
, a member of a group of refusenik
Refusenik
Refusenik originally referred to citizens of the former Soviet Union who were refused permission to emigrate.Refusenik or refusnik may also refer to:*An Israeli conscientious objector, see Refusal to serve in the Israeli military...
s-cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
patients, and an author of textbooks for the English language.
Life
Inna Meiman was born as Ina Fuxson in a Jewish family in Moscow, and graduated from Moscow State Linguistic UniversityMoscow State Linguistic University
Moscow State Linguistic University , previously known as Maurice Thorez Moscow State Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages is a university in Moscow, Russia. It is the largest and the oldest university in Russia that specializes in linguistics and foreign languages. There are about 10...
, where she worked for many years teaching English. This experience resulted in being awarded a Ph.D. and also in two textbooks: (English as a second foreign language (basic level)), (Modern English (advanced level)), which was in usage in several Russian Universities. Meiman also translated from English to Russian and vice versa. She was married for several years and had a son.
In 1987 she applied for an exit visa for the first time, but after two years of waiting, she was refused. In 1981 she married the refusenik and activist for human rights, Naum Meiman
Naum Meiman
Naum S. Meiman was a Soviet mathematician, and dissident. His is known for his work in complex analysis, partial differential equations, and mathematical physics, as well as for his dissident activity, in particular, for being a member of the Moscow Helsinki Group.-Life:In 1932 he graduated...
, and became active in this field as well. She also started to teach Russian to foreigners, including the personnel of US embassy. The Meimans were under surveillance by the KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
, which disconnected the telephone in Meiman's flat and also searched their home.
In 1983 she was diagnosed with cancer which progressed quickly, requiring several surgeries. Naum Meiman worked hard to enable his wife to go abroad for treatment. Inna Meiman then joined the group of refuseniks-cancer patients. A campaign to help her gradually accelerated, which was joined by US Senators Gary Hart
Gary Hart
Gary Hart is an American politician, lawyer, author, professor and commentator. He served as a Democratic Senator representing Colorado , and ran in the U.S...
and Paul Simon
Paul Simon (politician)
Paul Martin Simon was an American politician from Illinois. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to 1985 and United States Senate from 1985 to 1997. He was a member of the Democratic Party...
. Inna Meiman met many people from abroad, and gave an interview to foreign TV. A young American student Lisa Paul, who was very impressed by Inna, held a 25-day hunger strike to bring attention to her case.
In 1987, at the inception of Perestroika
Perestroika
Perestroika was a political movement within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during 1980s, widely associated with the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev...
, she was finally allowed to leave. Inna Meiman arrived in the US, but died after several weeks in February, 1987 in Georgetown (Washington, D.C.). Naum Meiman was not allowed to attend her funeral in Washington D.C.
25 years later Lisa Paul published a book of memoirs about Inna Meiman. Inna's Meiman life is a dramatic episode in the history of the refusenik movement and helped to expose the internal policy of the Soviet Union in the latter part of its existence. Naum Meiman died in Tel-Aviv, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
in 2001. Inna's son and seven grandchildren have lived in Israel since 1987.
External links
- SOVIET HUMAN RIGHTS BATTLE: ONLY ISOLATED VOICES REMAIN , NY Times
- INNA MEIMAN, EMIGRE, DIES AT 53 , NY Times
- OLD AND ALONE, SOVIET DISSIDENT LOOKS TO EXIT, NY Times