Dissidents are dissenters. Under the USSR, such citizens were persecuted, arrested in large numbers, or undergoing treatment in psychiatric clinics. Today, the word "opposition" is applied to dissidents.
Dissident is a word that comes from Latin. At first they called people who did not follow or completely reject the dogma of the country's dominant religion. Today, it is understood as a person who opposes the existing state system.
The emergence of dissent
For the first time, the direction arose in the Middle Ages, when the authority of the Catholic Church was called into question. At the same time, many began to get involved in Protestantism. For example, in England, which was characterized by the ministry of the Church of England, the transition of people to Puritanism quickly formed. Such citizens were called dissidents.
The word gained the greatest popularity in the days of the USSR. Not the entire population was quite power. Those who did not support the political views of those around them and the current ruling forces began to be called such a word. Political Dissidents:
- openly stated their point of view;
- united in underground organizations;
- conducted their own anti-government activities.
Since such people brought the government many worries, it struggled with them in every possible way. Dissent citizens were sent to exile, shot. However, the "underground" of those who renounced state standing lasted only until the 50s. Until the 80s, the dissident movement began to have a significant advantage in the public arena.
Among the participants in the movement were citizens of completely different views. Their desire to openly express their point of view united them. Under the USSR, not a single official could afford it. However, a single organization in the country did not exist. Therefore, many political scientists say that the direction was more likely to be psychological in nature, rather than social. Adjoining dissidents:
- scientists;
- artists;
- writers;
- experts in various fields.
Closer to the 70s of the last century, dissenters began to be accused of mental abnormalities. People became recognized as dangerous to society, so they were forcibly placed in hospitals. Those who lived by other rules were accused of terrorist attacks.
Wikipedia emphasizes that the KGB took various actions to force dissenters to speak publicly. Thanks to such actions, mitigation of punishment could be achieved.
Famous dissidents
One of the most famous participants in the movement was A. I. Solzhenitsyn. He actively opposed the Soviet system and power. During the Second World War, he went to the front, reached the rank of captain. In his free time, he conducted active correspondence with a comrade, in which he criticized the actions of I.V. Stalin. He compared his regime to serfdom. Employees of special units became interested in these letters. During the investigation, Solzhenitsyn lost his military rank and was arrested. He has been imprisoned for 8 years.
Hockey player Alexander Mogilny was also ranked among the dissidents. He was considered one of the best young players in the late 80s. He unexpectedly left for Stockholm, where he received a second citizenship. Due to the escape to the USSR, a criminal case was instituted against him. This made it possible for Alexander Mogilny to obtain political refugee status.
The dissidents included:
- Andrey Sakharov;
- Elena Boner;
- Vladimir Bukovsky;
- Pavel Litvinov and other famous personalities in the USSR.
