Kronid Lyubarsky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kronid Arkadyevich Lyubarsky
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| Кронид Аркадьевич Любарский | |
Yuliya Vishnevskya, Lyudmila Alexeyeva, Dina Kaminskaya and Kronid Lyubarsky in Munich, 1978
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| Born | April 4, 1934 |
| Died | May 23, 1996 (aged 62) |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Citizenship | Soviet Union Russia |
| Alma mater | Moscow State University |
| Occupation | astronomer, astrophysicist, journalist |
| Known for | human rights activism with participation in the Moscow Helsinki Group |
| Movement | dissident movement in the Soviet Union |
| Spouse(s) | Galina Salova |
Kronid Arkadyevich Lyubarsky (Russian: Крони́д Арка́дьевич Люба́рский; 4 April 1934 – 23 May 1996) was a Russian journalist and a brave activist for human rights. He was known for speaking out against the government in the Soviet Union and was even a political prisoner for his beliefs.
Contents
Early Life and Science Career
Kronid Lyubarsky was born in Pskov, a city in the Soviet Union, on April 4, 1934. He studied at Moscow State University and finished in 1956. After that, he worked as an astrophysicist. This means he studied space and the universe, including things like meteors and how life might exist in space (called space biology).
He also worked on the Soviet program to explore the planet Mars. Lyubarsky wrote several books about space biology. He also translated scientific books into Russian, including some by the famous astronomer Fred Hoyle.
Standing Up for Human Rights
In the mid-1960s, Lyubarsky started to get involved in the civil rights movement. This was a time when many people in the Soviet Union wanted more freedom and fairness. He helped create and share secret publications called samizdat. These were like underground newspapers that shared information the government didn't want people to know.
One important publication he worked on was the Chronicle of Current Events. This newspaper was published from 1968 to 1983. It reported on unfair arrests, trials, and other ways the Soviet government treated people badly.
Arrest and Imprisonment
In January 1972, the police searched Lyubarsky's home. They took many of his documents and books. Three days later, he was arrested. He was accused of spreading ideas against the Soviet government. On October 30, 1972, he was found guilty.
Lyubarsky then spent five years in different prison camps. These included camps in Mordovia and the Vladimir Central Prison.
Day of the Political Prisoner
While he was still in prison, Lyubarsky came up with an important idea. He suggested celebrating a special day for political prisoners in the Soviet Union. This idea quickly spread to other prisons and camps. This yearly event later became Russia's Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repressions. It remembers all the people who suffered because of their political beliefs.
Forced to Leave the Country
After his release from prison, Lyubarsky was sent to live in Tarusa. This was a town in the Moscow Region, and he was watched closely by the authorities. During this time, he helped manage the Solzhenitsyn Aid Fund. This fund was set up by writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn to help political prisoners and their families. Lyubarsky also joined the Soviet branch of Amnesty International, a group that works for human rights around the world.
However, the government kept putting pressure on him. He was worried he would be arrested again. So, in October 1977, Lyubarsky and his family had to leave the country. He lost his Soviet citizenship and asked for protection in West Germany.
Life in Exile
In the city of Munich, Germany, Lyubarsky started a newsletter called Vesti iz SSSR (which means "USSR News Brief"). This newsletter was published twice a month from 1978 to 1991. It shared detailed information about human rights in the Soviet Union and how people were resisting the Communist government. It was published in both Russian and English.
Every year, the newsletter included a "List of Political Prisoners in the USSR." This list had information about political prisoners and how to contact their families. This list was very important. It was used by many people, human rights groups, and even the United States Congress. The list was published until 1989, when the last Soviet political prisoner was set free.
Starting in 1984, Lyubarsky also edited and published a magazine called Strana i Mir (meaning "The Country and the World"). This magazine was named after a book by Andrei Sakharov, another famous activist. The magazine shared news not only about unfair treatment in the USSR but also about what was happening in other parts of the world.
Return to Russia
After the Soviet Union broke up, Kronid Lyubarsky returned to Russia. His citizenship was given back to him in June 1992.
Lyubarsky played an important role in writing the current Constitution of the Russian Federation. This is like the rulebook for the country. He helped write parts of it, including those about people's right to move freely and live anywhere they choose within Russia.
In 1990, he joined a special international group. This group was looking into what happened to Raoul Wallenberg. Wallenberg was a Swedish diplomat who disappeared into the Soviet prison system.
In February 1993, Lyubarsky joined a magazine called The New Times. He became the first deputy editor-in-chief. He continued to write articles supporting democracy and human rights. He was strongly against the First Chechen War. He even took a politician to court for saying that some Russian journalists were paid by Chechen authorities. After Lyubarsky's death, his wife, Galina, won the case.
From 1993 to 1996, Lyubarsky led the Moscow Helsinki Group again. This group was like a watchdog. It made sure the Soviet Union followed human rights agreements made in 1975.
Death and Lasting Impact
Kronid Lyubarsky passed away from a heart attack on May 23, 1996. He was 61 years old and was on vacation in Indonesia.
Today, you can find an online version of his USSR News Brief. This is a valuable resource for historians and activists. It contains thousands of reports from 1978 to 1987.
In 2000, after his death, Lyubarsky was honored by the International Press Institute. He was named one of the "World Press Freedom Heroes" of the past 50 years. This shows how important his work was in fighting for freedom of the press and human rights.
Images for kids
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Yuliya Vishnevskya, Lyudmila Alexeyeva, Dina Kaminskaya and Kronid Lyubarsky in Munich, 1978
