Gregor Gysi — politician with roots in the Russian Empire
Gregor Gysi is one of Germany's most prominent left-wing politicians, the long-time face of the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) and its successor Die Linke. A brilliant parliamentary orator and lawyer, he defended dissidents in East Germany and then led the transformation of the old communist party.
Tracing the roots — St. Petersburg
His mother Irene Lessing was born in St. Petersburg, and his great-grandmother came from a Russian noble family. Gysi has spoken about his Russian heritage and the complex intersection of German, Jewish, and Russian identity in his family — a story that encapsulates the turbulent 20th century in Central and Eastern Europe.
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St. Petersburg. At the time, this region lay within the Russian Empire, which spanned from Poland to the Pacific.
A career defined by ambition
"I am a socialist because I believe in human dignity."