Aleksander Solzhenitsyn
1918 - 2008
RIA Novosti / Kremlin / Reuters
Medal of Honor
In his final years, Solzhenitsyn praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he said had taken steps to "save Russia's statehood". In 2007, he welcomed the Russian President to his Moscow home for the presentation of a state medal.
Get the Latest Photos from Time.com
Get TIME photos and pictures of the week delivered directly to your inbox.