Born in 1887 as Freida Anisimovna Greck, Fanya at a young age moved with her family from the Russian Empire to the United States, where they took the name "Grefenson".

[3] During a workers' demonstration on 17 January 1915, Fanya was physically assaulted by police and arrested,[1] but was bailed out by the American activist Jane Addams.

[8] Spurred to action by the political repression against the anarchist movement, she travelled throughout Ukraine to organise workers and peasants, provide prisoner aid and spread the influence of the Nabat.

[10] Following the defeat of the White movement at the siege of Perekop in November 1920, the Bolsheviks turned on their anarchist allies, launching a surprise attack against them on several fronts.

[22] In an attempt to attract the attention of the foreign syndicalist delegates,[23] the anarchists imprisoned at Taganka staged a hunger strike, which Fanya joined.

"[26] Sustained international and domestic pressure forced the government to relent, with Lenin ordering the release of anarchist political prisoners, on the condition they leave the country.

[9] The Russian anarchist historian Volin denied the charges against Baron and Chernyi, claiming that the alleged counterfeiting had actually been committed by agents of the Cheka.