Mikhail Gorbachev, the leader of the Soviet Union, announced the release of Andrei Sakharov and his wife, Yelena Bonner, from years of exile in the city of Gorky. Sakharov, a renowned physicist and outspoken critic of the Soviet regime, was instrumental in advocating for civil liberties and nuclear disarmament. His activism, which included protests against the Soviet government's human rights abuses, led to his exile in 1980. His wife, Yelena Bonner, a human rights activist in her own right, was also detained for her efforts in promoting democratic freedoms. Their release marked a significant moment in Gorbachev's reforms under the policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring), aimed at modernizing the Soviet Union.

The decision to release Sakharov and Bonner followed international pressure from various human rights organizations and significant public support within the Soviet Union. This act was perceived as a gesture to signal the beginning of a more tolerant approach towards dissenters in the USSR. Sakharov's release allowed him to return to Moscow, where he would continue to be a key figure in advocating for freedom and reform. Gorbachev's actions illustrated a pivotal shift in Soviet policy and had far-reaching implications for the country’s political climate.

The release of such a prominent figure as Sakharov was a profound signal that the Soviet leadership was willing to engage with its critics, enhancing Gorbachev's image both home and abroad as a reformist leader. It opened the door for more public discourse on issues of human rights in the Soviet Union, helping to catalyze a wave of reformist movements that would change the fabric of Soviet society in the ensuing years. The newly restored freedom for Sakharov and Bonner also inspired many in the West who had championed human rights and the cause of dissidents, solidifying Sakharov’s legacy as a titan of human rights advocacy.