Nikolai Rybakov in memory of Sergei Kovalev, 9.08.2021

Photo: Sergei Kovalev / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

Sergei Adamovich Kovalev has always been a legendary figure for politicians of my generation. His confrontation with the Soviet regime, the struggle for human rights were, certainly, his internal conviction. I think he would have followed his principles, even if he had to act alone.

Fortunately, Sergei Kovalev was part of a great group of human rights defenders who considered it their civil and personal duty to liberate people, and protect their rights and lives. This is exactly what Sergei Kovalev did, taking part in the publication of the [dissidents’ human rights bulletin] Chronicle of Current Events, rescuing our prisoners during the wars in Chechnya, heading the Commission on Human Rights under the President of Russia, working as the Commissioner for Human Rights, and not hiding his disagreements with the current government.

Our joint work at Yabloko was short, but important and interesting. When we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Andrei Sakharov, Sergei Adamovich Kovelev expressed several important thoughts that could be considered his political mandate to future generations of not only politicians, but also citizens in general. He said that Sakharov had a conscience and a mind. And it is precisely these qualities that are lacking in Russia now. I am sure that the task of Yabloko and mine personally is to do everything so that conscience and mind would become the basis of our life.

My condolences to the family and friends of Sergei Adamovich Kovalev.

Nikolai Rybakov,

Yabloko Chairman