The Institute and it’s main tasks
The Andrei Sakharov Institute was founded in Paris by Lev Ponomarev, a Russian politician and human rights activist and former confidant of the world-famous Russian humanist and scientist Andrei Sakharov.
On February 24, 2022, the day of Russia’s armed invasion of Ukraine, Lev Ponomarev published a petition “Stop the war with Ukraine!”, which was signed by more than a million people in a matter of days. This became the starting point for the formation of the civil movement “Peace. Progress. Human Rights” named after Andrei Sakharov. The main goal of the movement was to find ways to quickly stop the war and transition to building a sustainable democracy in Russia.
While in exile in France, Lev Ponomarev continued his human rights work and founded the Andrei Sakharov Institute, the main objectives of which were:
The face of the war
Civil society in Russia
Repression in Russia
Publications by our experts and colleagues
Andrey Sakharov
A talented Russian scientist, humanist, who went from a brilliant career in science and the creation of the hydrogen bomb to dissidence, exile and active struggle for a world without a nuclear threat, human rights and democracy in Russia. It was Sakharov who in 1975 voiced to the whole world the simple truth he had suffered through:
“Peace, progress, human rights – these three goals are insolubly linked. You cannot reach one of them while neglecting the others”
Our community
Anxiety and Hope
Our “Andrei Sakharov Institute” expresses solidarity and full support for the citizens of Russia who, already during the first week of the war, openly spoke out online in favor of its immediate cessation.
Following this, the website “Anxiety and Hope” was created — a space that reflects the concerns and hopes of those who oppose this bloody war. The materials, prepared jointly with our colleagues, are available at the following link.
Our current team
Some names are hidden in a purpose of safety
Lev Ponomarev
Head of the Institute
Well-known Russian human rights activist, founder of the Sakharov Institute
Elena Kotenochkina
Project coordinator, deputy director
Former municipal deputy of the Krasnoselsky district of Moscow
Anfisa Boldyreva
Association member, expert
Lawer, human rights activist, journalist
Contact us
For questions on support, cooperation, and receiving human rights assistance
Phone/whatsapp
+33677793990
Reception adress
16 Rue Oberkampf, 75011 Paris, France
“Prosecuted for a Word: How ‘Dishonorable’ Becomes a Criminal Case”