Pyotr Grigorenko

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Pyotr G. Grigorenko or Petro H. Hryhorenko (Template:Lang-uk, Template:Lang-ru; 1907-1987) was a Major General of the Soviet Army and prominent Soviet human rights activist, a dissident and a writer.

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Early biography

Grigorenko was born in a village in Donbas, Ukrainian SSR. He went on a military career and reached high ranks during the World War II. After the war, being a decorated veteran, he left active career and taught at the Frunze Military Academy.

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Dissident activities

In 1961 Grigorenko criticized Nikita Khruschev's policies and was transferred to Russian Far East as punishment. In 1963 he created Union of Struggle for the Restoration of Leninism. In the 1960s Grigorenko became a member of Moscow Helsinki Watch Group. The authorities sent him to a psikhushka (psychiatric imprisonment) in 1964-1965 and in 1969-1976. In 1964 he was stripped of his military rank, medals, and retirement benefits.

Grigorenko actively participated in the struggle for the Crimean Tatar autonomy, and demonstrated against the 1968 Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia.

Grigorenko also was one of the first people who questioned the official Soviet version of World War II history. He pointed out that just prior to the German attack on June 22, 1941, vast Soviet troops were concentrated in the area west of Bialystok, deep in occupied Poland, getting ready for a surprise offensive, but vulnerable to be encircled in case of surprise German attack. His ideas were later advanced by Viktor Suvorov.

In 1977, when Grigorenko went for medical treatment to the United States, he was stripped of his Soviet citizenship.

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