Natan Sharansky gained international prominence in 1986 when he became the first political prisoner released by Mikhail Gorbachev. His transition from a Soviet refusenik to a central figure in Israeli governance followed nine years of imprisonment in labor camps, an experience he endured while maintaining his sanity through mental chess practice.
Soviet Dissidence and Imprisonment
Born in 1948 in Donetsk, Sharansky worked as a mathematician and served as a translator for Andrei Sakharov. After being denied an exit visa to Israel in 1973, he became a spokesman for the Moscow Helsinki Group. Following his 1977 arrest by the KGB, he faced charges of high treason. In 1978, a court sentenced him to 13 years of forced labor. He served time in prisons including Lefortovo and Perm 35, frequently resorting to hunger strikes to protest his treatment.
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The international campaign led by his wife, Avital Sharansky, culminated in his release on 11 February 1986. The exchange occurred on the Glienicke Bridge in a high-profile prisoner swap involving Western and Soviet spies. Upon arriving in Israel, he formally adopted the Hebrew name Natan and founded the Zionist Forum to assist Soviet immigrants with integration into Israeli society.
Political Career in Israel
In 1995, Sharansky co-founded the Yisrael BaAliyah party to represent the interests of immigrants from the former Soviet Union. His legislative and ministerial career spanned several years, including service as Minister of Economy from 1996 to 1999, Minister of the Interior from 1999 to 2000, and Deputy Prime Minister of Israel from 2001 to 2003. He held multiple terms as a member of the Knesset.
Intellectual and Chess Pursuits
A trained mathematician and former child chess prodigy, Sharansky continued to engage with the sport throughout his public life. He famously defeated world champion Garry Kasparov in a 1996 simultaneous exhibition in Israel. Beyond politics and chess, he authored books including the 1988 memoir Fear No Evil, documenting his years of confinement.
Fast facts
- Born: 1948, Donetsk
- Education: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
- Key Role: Chairman, Jewish Agency (2009–2018)
- Notable Award: Presidential Medal of Freedom (2006)
- Citizenship: Israel; Soviet Union
- Imprisonment: 1977–1986
- Languages: English, Russian, Hebrew
Questions readers ask
Why was Natan Sharansky imprisoned by the Soviet Union?
He was arrested in 1977 on charges of high treason and spying for the United States after working as a human rights activist and spokesman for the Moscow Helsinki Group.
What is the origin of his name?
He was born with the surname Shcharansky but adopted the Hebrew name Natan and simplified his surname to Sharansky upon his arrival in Israel in 1986.
Achievements
- Presidential Medal of Freedom — 2006
- Order of Merit (Ukraine), 3rd class
- Educated at MIPT Department of Control and Applied Mathematics
- Worked as politician, writer and mathematician
