Dissident

A dissident, broadly defined, is a person who actively opposes an established opinion, policy, or structure. The term is most often used to refer to political dissidents, usually against authoritarian regimes (although there are rare uses of the phrase philosophical dissident). Political dissidents usually use non-violent means of political dissent, including voicing criticism of the government, but dissidents can also attempt to displace or overthrow the established government by achieving popular support and sparking a revolution or rebellion. In totalitarian regimes these dissidents are often punished with lengthy prison sentences, execution or economic deprivation. It has been widely alleged that the USSR and China used or use involuntary commitment against dissidents.

Soviet dissidents

Dissidents, identified as such by the Soviet government, which tightly controlled the Soviet media, first appeared in a demonstration of 200 on Constitution Day, December 5 1965, in Pushkin Square, Moscow. The group was protesting the show trial of Andrei Sinyavsky and Yuri Daniel who were on trial for subversion for publishing their writings abroad. The English word "dissident" was chosen to imply foreign influence. Tracking down the identities of Sinyavsky and Daniel had proved quite difficult for the KGB; Sinyavsky had first published in the West in 1959 under the name "Abram Tertz"; Daniel in 1961 as "Nikolai Arzhak"; but only after years of surveillance of Soviet writers were they identified, their apartments bugged and they were brought to trial. Sinyavsky was given seven years, Daniel, five .

Related Topics:
Soviet government - Soviet media - Constitution Day - December 5 - 1965 - Pushkin Square - Moscow - Show trial - Andrei Sinyavsky - Yuri Daniel - KGB - Abram Tertz - Nikolai Arzhak - Surveillance

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