From time to time. we know that she was placed in solitary confinement. and protested each time by going on a hunger strike. According to our latest information. she continues to serve out her sentence in the outer reaches of the Soviet Union. Many of my colleagues and I wrote the Soviet Ambassador in Washington last month to renew our request that Nadezhda be allowed to emigrate and to ask for an update on her status and condition. To date. we have received no response. Nadezhda. to our knowledge. is the only woman in the Soviet Union who is incarcerated as a Jewish prisoner of conscience. She has no close family and no job in the Soviet Union. and her emigration to another country would pose no security risk to the Soviet Union. Yet Nadezhda. like thousands of other Soviet Jews. is being denied permission to emigrate. Mr. Speaker. the courageous ongoing efforts of these Soviet Jews must never be forgotten. Their continuing struggle to achieve religious freedom is an inspiration to us all. It is through our prayers. vigils. letters. and solidarity gatherings like the one planned Sunday that we can provide moral support to Soviet Jews. like Nadezhda Fradkova. who are determined to one day realize their lifelong dreams to emigrate to a nation like the United States or Israel. where the freedom to worship freely is a sacred Godgiven liberty.
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emigrate emigration