Sergejaus Kovaliovo veikla disidentiniame judėjime ir jo ryšiai su Lietuva

LTDarbo tikslas - nustatyti Sergejaus Kovaliovo vaidmenį Rusijos žmogaus teisių judėjime ir jo vietą lietuvių ir rusų disidentų tarpusavio santykiuose. Straipsnyje atskleistos S. Kovaliovo įsiliejimo į disidentinį judėjimą aplinkybės, detaliai aptarta jo veikla „Žmogaus teisių gynimo SSRS“ iniciatyvinėje grupėje, atskleista, kada, kaip ir kokiomis aplinkybėmis užsimezgė jo ir lietuvių disidentų ryšiai. Nagrinėjamas 1975 m. vykęs S. Kovaliovo teismo procesas Vilniuje bei su juo susiję įvykiai. Straipsnyje mėginama atskleisti S. Kovaliovo, kaip politinio kalinio, disidentinės veiklos ypatumus, aptarta jo veikla SSRS pertvarkos metais. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: "Lietuvos Katalikų Bažnyčios Kronika"; Biografija; Disidentai; Disidentas; Iniciatyvinė grupė; Kovaliovo teismas; Rusijos "Kronika"; S.Kovaliovas; Sergejus Kovaliovas; Sergejus Kovaliovas, disidentinis judėjimas, Lietuva; Žmogaus teisės; 'The Cronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania'; Biography; Disident; Dissidents; Human rights; Kovaliov's trial in Vilnius; Lithuania; Russian 'Chronicle'; S. Kovaliov; Sergei Kovaliov; Sergei Kovaliov, dissident movement, Lithuania.

ENSergei Kovaliov, who joined the dissident movement in 1968, a year later became one of the most active members of the Initiative Group, the first organisation of the movement for human rights in the Soviet Union. He participated directly in writing and sending to the West several addresses by the Initiative Group. His activities in the organisation were an important page in his life. In May 1974, Kovaliov, togethe rwith Tatyana Velikanova and Tatyana Chodorovitch, revived the publication and dissemination of the "Chronicle". This publication was treated by the Soviet authorities as "anti-Soviet" and "anti-State". The contribution of Kovaliov and his associates to the revival of the "Chronicle" was very important, as it was considered the main instrument in the hands of the dissidents in their struggle for human rights. It gave an opportunity to inform people in the Soviet Union and the West about cases of violations of human rights. The revived "Chronicle" continued to be published after Kovaliov's arrest, until the end of 1982. Together with Andrei Sakharov, Kovaliov initiated the commemoration of Political Prisoners' Day in the Soviet Union, on 30 October 1974. On their initiative a press conference was held for foreign correspondents about the state of human rights and the issue of political prisoners in the Soviet Union. Later, Soviet political prisoners commemorated this day, although unofficially. On that day they could remind the world about their existence. Traditionally, in present-day Russia, 30 October is considered Political Prisoners' Day.Kovaliov played a very important role in the relations between Lithuanian and Russian dissidents. Firstly, "The Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania" and other publications from Lithuania found their way to the West with his help. On his initiative, material about cases of abuses of human rights from the Lithuanian "Chronicle" was printed in the Russian "Chronicle". In this way, articles from "The Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania" became available, with Kovaliov's help, to readers in the West and the Soviet Union. Kovaliov was the strongest link in the chain between the Lithuanian and other Russian dissidents, as he was well acquainted with the former. Kovaliov's trial attracted many people's attention, both in Vilnius and the West. Firstly, Sakharov was in Vilnius at that time, although he was to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Secondly, the attention of many Lithuanians was attracted by the fact that a Russian was on trial for his support for "The Chronicle of the Catholic Church in Lithuania". Kovaliov and his supporters who came to Vilnius proved that there were Russians in the Soviet Union who could understand the problems of the Lithuanians. Kovaliov's arrest, interrogation and trial brought closer Lithuanian and Russian dissidents, and old ties between members of the Catholic movement and Moscow dissidents became stronger. [From the publication]