False Criminal Charges Vyacheslav Chornovil (Press, 15 October 1980)

On 15 October 1980, a report highlighted the misuse of criminal charges by governments against political dissenters as part of Amnesty International’s “Prisoner of Conscience” week, focused on the various forms of imprisonment faced by political opponents. The article emphasised that regimes, particularly in the Soviet Union, employed false charges to not only imprison dissenters but to strip them of their political status, making it challenging for international advocacy. Within the Soviet Union, there had been a noted rise in imprisonments related to purported "criminal offences" that were often unrelated to an individual’s dissent. Charges commonly utilised included "hooliganism," defined under the criminal code as actions that violate public order and express disrespect towards society. A specific case discussed involved Mikhail Solovov, a 30-year-old engineer, who received a three-year sentence for allegedly making disparaging remarks about President Leonid Brezhnev on public transport. Another prevalent charge was "parasitism," used to target individuals who were accused of living off unearned income without engaging in socially beneficial work. This law could be wielded against any adult who employed nonconformist behavior, amplifying the intimidation factor for dissenters who faced job loss, thereby rendering them vulnerable to charges. The article spotlighted Vyacheslav Chornovil, a former journalist and activist, who was initially sentenced to six years in prison for “anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda.” Following his release and subsequent rearrest on false charges of “attempted rape,” Chornovil faced an additional five-year sentence. Additionally, the report addressed the situation in Mexico, where land disputes in Cuernavaca led to arrests of individuals involved in community movements. Alfredo Nava Meza, a bricklayer, was arrested in September 1979 and attributed his detention to his role in his neighbourhood association, highlighting the political activism that arose within poor urban settlements. In Romania, a number of dissenters had been convicted under legal provisions that were not explicitly tied to their political activities. Charges for “leading a parasitical, anarchic life” or “disturbing public order” were prevalent, with some individuals also facing conviction for "homosexual offences." The case of Gheorghe Rusu served as an example of politically motivated harassment, where he was arrested under allegations of "homosexual acts" after attempting to emigrate. Although acquitted, he faced a subsequent imprisonment sentence. The article illustrated the extensive and varied tactics employed by governments to silence dissent, revealing the troubling intersections of law, politics, and personal freedoms, as captured during Amnesty International's week dedicated to raising awareness of prisoners of conscience.

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