Luis Corvalan, historical leader of the Chilean Communist Party died on Wednesday at the age of 94.

Corvalan was a very active politician since 1932, when he joined the Communist Party of Chile. From 1948 to 1958 the party was considered illegal in Chile and Luis Corvalan was imprisoned in two concentration camps. Since 1958 he served as the party's Secretary General.

During Pinochet's military coup Corvalan was also arrested but three years later Soviet Union began a strong movement for his release and offered him political asylum, while the dissident Bukovsky, accused for "anti-Soviet propaganda", went to the United States, instead of Chile, and afterward moved to the United Kingdom.

It is strongly defended that the exchange was orchestrated by Washington, because Pinochet's military rule was basically at the control of the U.S. government and the development of Moscow was seen as seen in parallel with this ideological, but, mostly, geopolitical question. The dictatorship years that followed the coup claimed the lives of thousands of Chilean people.

However, during the imprisonment, Corvalan had still been awarded with the Lenin Peace Prize and managed to lead the party even in exile. In 1983, he submitted himself to plastic surgery and returned to his Chile secretly. For Corvalan, this was a mission that he had to accomplish, especially after knowing that his son was tortured to death in Pinochet's prison.

Following the end of Pinochet's dictatorship in 1989, he resigned as the Communist party leader at the age of 73 and returned back to Chile in 1989 where he wrote important memories of Allende’s government, Pinochet coop and his own life.

The project of “Don Lucho” remains until today as an example and stimulus for all left forces of the world.” Also for the Party of the European Left, the Chilean example to conquer the political power by democratic routes continues being a very important progress in the development of an international left, that will be always related to Luis Corvalan name”, Lothar Bisky, EL President expressed yesterday.