‘I tried to help them, but my strength gave out’. For half a century, Nina Litvinova stood with Soviet and then Russian political prisoners. In May, at 80, she took her own life.

Nina Litvinova, a tireless advocate for political prisoners in the Soviet Union and Russia, tragically took her own life at 80 in Moscow. For over half a century, she fought for the rights of those imprisoned for political reasons, leaving a legacy of unwavering activism. In her final note, she expressed despair over the oppressive climate in Russia today, particularly under Putin's regime, which she believed had grown increasingly tyrannical, mirroring the conditions she fought against. Her death highlights the ongoing struggles for human rights and the toll such a lifelong battle can take on a person's spirit.