Soviet-Era Dissident Sergei Grigoryants Dies In Moscow At 81

Sergei Grigoryants in 2018

Well-known Soviet-era dissident and human rights activist Sergei Grigoryants has died in Moscow at the age of 81, his daughter said on March 14. Kyiv-born Grigoryants was sentenced twice by Soviet courts in 1975 and 1983 to five and seven years in prison respectively for his human rights activities. He was handed an early release in 1987 in the wake of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms and continued his rights defending activities. Grigoryants was a staunch critic of President Vladimir Putin and condemned Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Siberia.Realities, click here.