In a recent letter commemorating the centennial of Ronald Reagan’s birth, Russian human rights activist Yelena Bonner praised the former...
In a recent letter commemorating the centennial of Ronald Reagan’s birth, Russian human rights activist Yelena Bonner praised the former president for his ability “to relate practical steps to a few very basic principles dear to all humans, such as political and economic freedom, respect for human dignity, and a sense of responsibility.” Bonner, who passed away on June 18 of heart failure, had endured hunger, exile and persecution from Soviet authorities for her faithfulness to these beliefs. Together with her husband Andrei Sakharov, the 1975 Nobel Peace Prize winner, she withstood intimidation, condemned the Soviet state’s abuses and relayed to the world the plight of political prisoners. Unlike Sakharov, Bonner lived to witness the Soviet Union’s collapse. She remained a voice for freedom as Russia’s fledgling democracy sadly slid toward autocracy and a closed space for political competition, independent media and the rule of law. The experience of Bonner, Sakharov and fellow Soviet dissidents like Natan Sharansky provides inspiration and insight to the current generation of freedom advocates toiling for the cause of liberty—and reminds us all of the importance of standing with them.
