In 1984 when Andrei Sakharov went on a hunger strike in exile in Gorky he was forcibly hospitalized with no opportunity to communicate even with his wife. His family, colleagues and friends had no reliable information about his condition or even his exact whereabouts.
Around the world people impressed by Sakharov’s ideas tried to draw attention to his plight through different actions. One of those actions took place in a tiny French resort Le Touquet, aka Paris-Plage. Le Touquet is a popular seaside resort in northern France known for its sandy beaches, sports activities, and charming atmosphere. It’s also known as “Paris Plage” due to its popularity with Parisians and its proximity to the capital. In 1984, François Leotard, a French politician and a future minister of defence led an opening ceremony of Rue Andrei Sakharov, a small street adjacent to Rue Moscow.
