How Andrei Sakharov became a democrat

Abstract

The article examines the intellectual and political development of Andrei Sakharov from trusted Soviet nuclear physicist to dissident supporter of democracy. It is revealed how Sakharov came to accept and support the idea of democracy, especially taking into account the importance of human rights and the rule of law. The author emphasizes Sakharov’s approach to the free dissemination of information and intellectual competition as essential values of a democratic society. Strongly influenced by his disputes with Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Sakharov eventually abandoned his initial skepticism towards democracy and became a staunch supporter of the multiparty system. Particularly important in this journey was the effort to integrate human rights into the process of political decision-making. Sakharov strongly believed that effective and humane governance was impossible without this integration. The article also discusses the current political situation in Russia, emphasizing the impunity of Vladimir Putin’s activity and the absence of political, institutional and legal constraints, which threatens the development of democracy in the country. The author of the article claims that without a substantial internal desire for democratic political competition within Russian society, Western efforts will not be sufficient for democracy to take hold in Russia.