Andrey Sakharov 80th anniversary

Andrey Sakharov is world famous as a great scientist, father of controlable thermonuclear synthesis, and an indomitable fighter for human rights and the supremacy of universally recognized human values. He was a laureate of the USSR`s most respected State and Lenin prizes and a Nobel Prize winner.

Nizhny Novgorod is inseparable from Sakharov because, firstly, his origin is here; secondly, he worked in the town of Sarov, south ofNizhny Novgorod, for 20 years; and thirdly, he spent a seven-year political exile in this city.

Andrei D. Sakharov was also one of the fathers of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. In December of 1979, after the Soviet Union deployed its troops in Afghanistan, the scientist fearlessly voiced his protest against the invasion. He was banished to Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod) the next month already and his detention in his own apartment began to last until December 23, 1986.

These years were the most tragic in Sakharov's life. He was estranged from scientific work and alienated from the whole world. So, if his destiny were connected to our city under different circumstances, we would say we are happy and honored to have had him here. But we cannot be happy about these seven years of a lawless exile that meant mental anguish to academician Sakharov. Torments were fueled by the climate of public hatred towards the human rights activist, encouraged by the official media and Communist authorities. What we were told about Sakharov then and the truth that we know today have nothing in common.

After his exile Andrei D. Sakharov was elected a deputy to the Supreme Council of the USSR and took part in the preparation of a draft Constitution.

By the materials of book "Anniversary Nizhny"