On April 28, 1983, together with my comrades from the Young Socialists, I was released from Lefortovo Prison.
We were freed back then because the case of the Young Socialists had become extremely scandalous for the authorities, and at that time the Russian — that is, Soviet — government was still a different kind of state, one that cared about its reputation and understood that keeping us in prison was extremely damaging to the Soviet Union’s image. That is why, in the end, they left us alone and released us.
Since then, as we can see, many years have passed. Today is once again April 28.
Back then, the war in Afghanistan was underway — now, military activities are ongoing in Ukraine. Back then, there were political prisoners — and now there are political prisoners again.
But it must be said that, of course, we have made a very long journey backward: there were far fewer political prisoners then, and the number of casualties in Afghanistan was incomparably lower than from the fighting in Ukraine. Even academic freedoms, which seemed to have flourished in the 1990s and 2000s, are now under systematic attack, and very soon the situation may become even worse than during the Brezhnev era in the Soviet Union.
So indeed, we have gone backwards a great deal. Nevertheless, I have every reason to remain optimistic. Because the very fact that the situation changes, the state changes, political prisoners one way or another are released, wars end, and the authorities are forced to admit their mistakes — all this gives hope.
Let me remind you: the case of the Young Socialists ultimately led to the authorities themselves being forced to recognize the validity and justification of our criticism.
In short, one way or another, progress forces its way forward. That is why I remain optimistic and am confident that what lies ahead will only be better.
And even if it becomes worse again — we have still won.
We were freed back then because the case of the Young Socialists had become extremely scandalous for the authorities, and at that time the Russian — that is, Soviet — government was still a different kind of state, one that cared about its reputation and understood that keeping us in prison was extremely damaging to the Soviet Union’s image. That is why, in the end, they left us alone and released us.
Since then, as we can see, many years have passed. Today is once again April 28.
Back then, the war in Afghanistan was underway — now, military activities are ongoing in Ukraine. Back then, there were political prisoners — and now there are political prisoners again.
But it must be said that, of course, we have made a very long journey backward: there were far fewer political prisoners then, and the number of casualties in Afghanistan was incomparably lower than from the fighting in Ukraine. Even academic freedoms, which seemed to have flourished in the 1990s and 2000s, are now under systematic attack, and very soon the situation may become even worse than during the Brezhnev era in the Soviet Union.
So indeed, we have gone backwards a great deal. Nevertheless, I have every reason to remain optimistic. Because the very fact that the situation changes, the state changes, political prisoners one way or another are released, wars end, and the authorities are forced to admit their mistakes — all this gives hope.
Let me remind you: the case of the Young Socialists ultimately led to the authorities themselves being forced to recognize the validity and justification of our criticism.
In short, one way or another, progress forces its way forward. That is why I remain optimistic and am confident that what lies ahead will only be better.
And even if it becomes worse again — we have still won.
