# Svetlana Gannushkina

> human rights activist

**Wikidata**: [Q436213](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q436213)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svetlana_Gannushkina)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/svetlana-gannushkina

## Summary
Svetlana Gannushkina is a prominent Russian human rights activist, mathematician, and university teacher known for her lifelong dedication to protecting civil liberties and defending human rights in Russia. She is a founding member of the human rights society Memorial and a long-serving member of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, having received numerous international accolades including the Homo Homini Award and the Right Livelihood Award.

## Biography
- **Born:** March 6, 1942
- **Nationality:** Russia (formerly Soviet Union)
- **Education:** Educated at the MSU Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics (part of Lomonosov Moscow State University)
- **Known for:** Founding and leading human rights initiatives, specifically within the Memorial society, and advocating for civil society rights in Russia
- **Employer(s):** Lomonosov Moscow State University (affiliated via MSU Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics)
- **Field(s):** Human rights defense, mathematics, university teaching

## Contributions
Svetlana Gannushkina's primary contributions lie in the establishment and leadership of civil society organizations and the defense of human rights in Russia.
- **Founding Memorial:** She is a key figure in the Russian historical and civil rights society "Memorial," which was established on January 28, 1989, to document Soviet repression and protect civil liberties.
- **Presidential Council Service:** She has served as a member of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights, a consultative body to the President of Russia, since its inception on November 6, 2004.
- **Academic Leadership:** She has contributed to the field of mathematics and education through her affiliation with the MSU Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, a faculty of Lomonosov Moscow State University founded in 1933.
- **Human Rights Advocacy:** As a "human rights defender," she has acted to protect the rights of individuals in Russia, operating within the legal and social frameworks of the Russian Federation and its predecessor, the Soviet Union.

## FAQs
**What are Svetlana Gannushkina's primary professional roles?**
She is recognized as a human rights activist, a mathematician, and a university teacher. Her work spans the academic sector at Moscow State University and the civil society sector through organizations like Memorial.

**Which major organizations is Svetlana Gannushkina affiliated with?**
She is a member of the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights and is closely associated with the human rights society Memorial. She is also professionally linked to the MSU Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics.

**What international recognition has she received for her human rights work?**
Gannushkina has been honored with several prestigious awards, including the Homo Homini Award, the Right Livelihood Award, the Amnesty International Menschenrechtspreis, and the Andrei Sakharov Freedom Award. She has also received the Legion of Honour from France and the Russian Federation Presidential Certificate of Gratitude.

**What is her educational and professional background in mathematics?**
She is a mathematician with extensive knowledge in the field and has worked as a university teacher. Her academic foundation includes education at the MSU Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, which is part of Lomonosov Moscow State University.

## Why They Matter
Svetlana Gannushkina matters because she has been a cornerstone of the Russian human rights movement for decades, providing a critical voice for civil liberties during and after the Soviet era. Her work with Memorial has preserved the historical memory of political repression, while her role on the Presidential Council has offered a channel for civil society to engage with the highest levels of government. Without her sustained advocacy, the documentation of human rights violations in Russia and the support for victims would lack a significant institutional and moral leader. Her receipt of major international awards underscores her global impact as a defender of universal human rights principles.

## Notable For
- Being a founding member and leader of the Russian historical and civil rights society Memorial (est. 1989).
- Serving on the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights since 2004.
- Receiving the Homo Homini Award, a significant human rights honor from the Czech Republic.
- Being awarded the Right Livelihood Award, often referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize."
- Receiving the Amnesty International Menschenrechtspreis for her defense of human rights.
- Being honored with the Andrei Sakharov Freedom Award, established by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee.
- Receiving the Legion of Honour and the Knight of the Legion of Honour from France.
- Being recognized with the Stieg Larsson Award from Sweden.
- Receiving the Russian Federation Presidential Certificate of Gratitude in 2008.
- Working as a mathematician and university teacher at Lomonosov Moscow State University.
- Being a citizen of Russia and a former citizen of the Soviet Union.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Svetlana Gannushkina was born on March 6, 1942. She is a citizen of Russia, a country that traces its historical roots back to Kievan Rus' and the Grand Principality of Moscow, though the modern Russian Federation was established on December 25, 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Her educational background is rooted in the sciences; she is a mathematician who received her education at the MSU Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics. This faculty is a constituent part of Lomonosov Moscow State University, a public research university in Moscow founded in 1755. Her academic training established her foundation as a university teacher, a role she has maintained alongside her activism.

### Career and Organizational Affiliations
Gannushkina's career is defined by her dual role as an academic and a human rights defender. She is a member of the human rights society Memorial, an organization founded on January 28, 1989, dedicated to historical and civil rights work in Russia. Memorial is headquartered in Moscow and operates within the industry of human rights and historical research. In addition to her work with Memorial, she serves on the Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights. This body, which began operations on November 6, 2004, acts as a consultative entity to the President of Russia. Her affiliation with these organizations highlights her commitment to the protection of human rights within the Russian Federation, a federal semi-presidential republic.

### Awards and Recognition
Her contributions to human rights and civil society have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards from around the world.
- **International Human Rights Awards:** She received the Homo Homini Award, established in 1994 in the Czech Republic, and the Right Livelihood Award, established in 1980 in Sweden. She was also honored with the Amnesty International Menschenrechtspreis and the Andrei Sakharov Freedom Award, which was established in 1980 by the Norwegian Helsinki Committee.
- **National and Regional Honors:** In France, she was awarded the Legion of Honour, the highest order of merit, and specifically recognized as a Knight of the Legion of Honour. In Sweden, she received the Stieg Larsson Award in 2009. Domestically, she received the Russian Federation Presidential Certificate of Gratitude, awarded on April 11, 2008.
- **Academic and Professional Identity:** Her identity as a human rights defender, mathematician, and university teacher is well-documented, with her work influencing the fields of civil society and mathematics education in Russia.

### Context of Work: Russia and the Soviet Union
Gannushkina's work has taken place against the backdrop of significant geopolitical shifts. She was born in the Soviet Union, a former country in Eurasia that existed from 1922 to 1991. Her career spans the transition from the Soviet era to the modern Russian Federation. Russia, the successor state, is the largest country in the world by land area, covering approximately 17 million square kilometers across Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It operates as a federal republic with Moscow as its capital. The country is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a member of various international organizations, including the G20 and BRICS. Gannushkina's activism operates within this complex legal and political framework, advocating for civil liberties in a nation that has seen fluctuating levels of political openness and repression.

### Legacy and Impact
As a human rights activist, Svetlana Gannushkina has dedicated her life to protecting the rights of individuals in Russia. Her work with Memorial has been instrumental in documenting the history of political repression and supporting the victims of totalitarian regimes. Her presence on the Presidential Council has provided a platform for civil society to engage with the state, although the political landscape in Russia has become increasingly restrictive in recent years. Her numerous awards reflect the international community's recognition of her courage and dedication. She remains a significant figure in the global human rights movement, representing the resilience of civil society in Russia. Her legacy is one of unwavering commitment to the principles of human dignity and the rule of law, even in the face of adversity.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. [Source](http://www.stieglarssonfoundation.se/the-annual-stieg-larsson-prize/)
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. Munzinger Personen
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. IdRef