Andrei Sakharov Brief Biography

Andrei Sakharov was a Russian physicist with an inauspicious beginning as a peacemaker.  He is known for his design of the Soviet hydrogen bomb.  He believed Soviet nuclear power would create parity with American capabilities and serve as a deterrent to war.  Following the test of the hydrogen bomb, Sakharov warned against the consequences of an arms race.  He then championed efforts for civil liberties in the Soviet Union, becoming an outspoken dissident.  In response, the government stripped him of honors and internally exiled him.  Nevertheles, Sakharov continued his work.  His efforts won him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975.  The Sakharov Prize, awarded by the European Parliament for people and organizations dedicated to human rights and freedoms, is named in his honor.