Lyudmila Alexeyeva

Overview

Lyudmila Alexeyeva born Yevpatoria, Crimea, USSR July 20, 1927. Russian human rights activist; Soviet dissident; archaeologist and historian. Co-founded Russian human rights organization Moscow Helsinki Group, 1976; exiled and relocated to US, 1977-93. Returned to Russia after dissolution of USSR, 1993; chairperson of Moscow Helsinki Group 1996. Visited Chechnya in protest of war, 1996; organized nonviolent protests, Moscow, 2009; protested Russian annexation of Crimea, 2014. Awarded Palme Prize, 2002; Sakharov Prize, 2009.

Quotations

"I have said on many occasions and repeat that I am convinced the seizure of Crimea cast shame on my country. . . In the modern world it is shameful and stupid to be an occupier. You need to reach agreement, not fight." (Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, Sept. 8, 2014; photo liviannamasso.wordpress)