Background
Bukovskii, Vladimir was born in 1942. Son of Communist party official.
Bukovskii, Vladimir was born in 1942. Son of Communist party official.
As a student of biology at Moscow University, became involved in the human rights movement. One of the best known activists, wrote samizdat short stories. First arrest in 1963 for photocopying the book New Class by M. Djilas.
Put into a psychiatric hospital in Leningrad, 1963-1965. Arrested again at the end of 1965 for organizing a demonstration in Moscow in defence of the writers Siniavskii and Daniel. Another term in psychiatric hospitals, 1965-1966.
In January 1967 sentenced to three years in labour camps for taking part in a demonstration in defence of Galanskov. In January 1971 collected and presented materials on the political misuse of psychiatry to the World Congress of Psychiatrists in Mexico. Arrested in March 1971, sentenced in January 1972 to 7 years imprisonment and 5 years exile.
In December 1976 exchanged for the Chilean communist leader, Louis Corvalan. Left the USSR for England. Wrote an autobiography, relating his experiences in human rights groups and during his terms of imprisonment.
Continues to take part in human rights movements abroad. Lives in England, lectures around the world. President of the Resistance International, 1983.