Vladimir Konstantinovich Bukovsky (born on December 30, 1942 in Belebey, Bashkir Republic, the USSR) is a writer, political and public figure, a scientist neurophysiologist. He is known as one of the founders of the dissident movement in the USSR.

Altogether he spent 12 years in prisons and under enforced treatment in hospitals. In 1976 Soviet authorities exchanged Bukovsky for the leader of Chilean communists Luis Corvalan and Bukovsky managed to move to Great Britain.

The exchange took place in Switzerland, where Bukovsky was delivered in handcuffs and under escort.

Soon after deportation from the USSR Bukovsky was received by the US president Jimmy Carter in the White House. Similarly, after the release from the Chilean prison Luis Corvalan was received by Leonid Brezhnev in Kremlin. Later Luis Corvalan changed his appearance and illegally returned to Chile. The exchange of Bukovsky and Corvalan became the most well-known case of a successful exchange of political prisoners.

Vladimir Bukovsky settled down in Great Britain and graduated the Cambridge University majoring in neurophysiology. He wrote the book of memoirs “And the wind returns” published in many languages. The English version of the book is titled “To Build a Castle: My Life as a Dissenter”.

In 2007 Bukovsky was nominated a candidate for the presidency of Russia in elections of 2008, but his candidature was not registered by the Central Electoral Committee.

Vladimir Bukovsky is the author of several books and quite frequently writes articles for periodicals.