1969 Alexander Solzhenitsyn expelled from the Writers' Union

45 years ago, on November 4, 1969, the Ryazan Writers' Organization expelled Alexander Solzhenitsyn from the Writers' Union of the USSR. The secretary of the department, Ernst Safonov, prudently underwent an appendicitis operation so as not to participate in this action. Alexander Isaevich was accused of not speaking at election meetings, not participating in the discussion of the works of beginning authors and not reviewing their manuscripts, and besides, he was arrogant about Ryazan writers and their "small achievements in literature." Solzhenitsyn denied all accusations, but was expelled by five votes to one. Only the excluded person voted against.