Summary of international week of actions for Russian anarchist and anti-fascist prisoners

For full report with working links and pictures, check original at
http://avtonom.org/node/32772

Although state pressure is growing, new
delirious «anti-terrorist» laws are passed instead of improving life of
citizens, activists of Moscow Anarchist Black Cross, Autonomous Action
and other anarchist and anti-fascist initiatives organized a wide
international campaign to defend our comrades imprisoned in Putin's gallows.

Israel: A picket at the Russian embassy

International campaign of solidarity for Russian anarchists and
antifascists started from Israel. 1st of July 2016 in Tel Aviv
anarchists from "Unity"-movement organized a solidarity action.
Anarchists picketed Russian embassy in Tel Aviv in solidarity with
imprisoned anarchists and anti-fascists.
"Friends, remember, one day every prison has fallen and every empire has
collapsed. For those in freedom, we remind: Do not give up! Do! Keep up
the fire! Take the fire from those who have lost their freedom, and
carry it further, to victory of the social revolution!"

Finland: a solidarity picket for Russian political prisoners

After Tel-Aviv, Helsinki joined the solidarity campaign. A picket was
organized at the center of the city Friday 1st of July. Next to the main
railway station around ten anarchists banners "Freedom to Crimean
prisoners" (Vapaus Krimin vangeille) and "Freedom for all political
prisoners". Few hundred leaflets which explained point of the action
were spread.

Spain: A banner drop next to a squat

In Friday 1st of June 2016, next to occupied and self-governed social
center "Kasika", a big banner was hanged in order to bring attention to
situation of anarchists and anti-fascists arrested in Russia.
Next to banner, leaflets with information about Russian
non-authoritarian left-wing political prisoners was spread. More than
thousand leaflets were distributed, passers-by were interested about the
situation in Russia.

Czech republic: Picket at the Russian embassy

7th of July anarchists and people who are not indifferent to repressions
in Russia, met in front of the Russian embassy. Already two hours in
prior to action, embassy was fenced with 25 police officers, and
eventually number of police only grew. With cameras, caps,
plain-clothes, boots, gloomy faces — a big selection.

Few dozen people came to shout at the embassy, and a solidarity message
from Russian anarchists was read:
"We keep organizing in difficult conditions, under heavy and constant
police repressions and unprecedented tightening of the legislation. Any
kind of activities are becoming more and more difficult, but we are
committed to continue our cause, our struggle for a social revolution
and libertarian communism! Long live international solidarity! Death to
the state! Freedom is born where the government dies!"
Police began immediately to behave aggressively, checking documents from
those who carried a banner or who were in the front. Russian embassy was
shaken with shouts such as "Our weapon is solidarity", "A desire for
freedom is stronger than any prison!". After meeting, there was an event
in Stromovka park, where people could enjoy vegan barbecue and support
local and Russian anarchist movements with donations and a distro.

Sweden: In Malmö activists made a banner drop, and in Borlänge festival
artists hanged big portraits of Alexey Gaskarov and Alexey Sutuga
In Malmö, two banners were dropped from the opposite side of the main
railway station, with texts Destroy police state and Free Putin's
prisoners. In a festival in Borlänge, several modern artista made works
in which Alexey Gaskarov and Alexey Sutuga were pictured, participators
of the festival were also informed about political repressions against
antifascists and anarchists in Putin's Russia

France: Banners in Lyon

As a response to solidarity call by ABC-Moscow, a group of anarchists
dropped big banners in various places of Lyon. These actions show that
anarchists of Lyon support anarchist and antifascist comrades which are
behind bars in Russia.
"Our comrades in Russia are in a difficult situation. State repressions
often fall on anti-fascists and anarchists, more often that on moderate
human rights activists. Many of our comrades are located in prisoners
and camps of special discipline. Some of are about to be sentenced on
basis of protests which they did not even participated.

When we hanged banners in Lyon, we wanted to say that we support you,
and we think about you and we want you to be released as soon as
posible. To inform a maximum amount of people about problem of political
prisoners in Russia, we hanged big banners at the stadion 'Stade des
Lumières'"

Belarus: A banner at highway M-1

Anarchists from the city of Baranovichi dropped a banner with text
«Freedom to anarchist and anti-fascist political prisoners» in highway
M-1 from Brest to Moscow. This banner was dedicated to international
days of action for Russian imprisoned anarchists and antifascists, and
also to support arrested comrades from Brest, Ivantsevich and Minsk of
Belarus. It was also dedicated to other activists from different
countries which are currently imprisoned.

By repressing anti-fascists and non-authoritarian left activists,
Belarus and Russia show that they are real dictatorships. Fearing
peoples anger, they are ready to imprison, maim and even murder innocent
people, whose only crime is to hope for a change. But besides all the
attempts of the repressive machine, cause and struggle for a free
society is alive.

Ukraine: banners and graffiti in Kiev, Lutsk, Lvov, Chernigov, Kharkiv
and Dnepropetrovsk

5th of July activists of "Black Dawn" hanged a banner, dedicated to day
of solidarity with political prisoners, in Dnepropetrovsk. 7th of July
in Kharkiv, a banner dedicated to Kolchenko, Sutuga, Romanov, Buchenkov,
Gaskarov and other repressed activists was hanged in opposite side of
the Russian consulate.

9th of July 2016 in Kiev, as a part of the international campaign,
activists hanged banner «freedom to political prisoners» next to the
embassy of Russian in Ukraine. In Lutsk and Chernigov graffiti was
painted in solidarity with imprisoned antifascists and anarchists in
Russia and Belarus: Alexander Kolchenko, Alexey Sutuga, Dmitry
Buchenkov, Ilya Romanov, Alexey Gaskarov and Dmitry Polienko.

In Lvov, activists threw paint to ATM machine and spoiled front window
of the Sberbank.

Moscow: a benefit concert, graffiti and lecture on surviving police

6th of July there was a concert to support political prisoners, poets
Pavel Nikulin, Lyuba Pravda, Nikita Yerin, Boris Bulgakov and Artem
Kamardin performed. Black Kassidy and Agura Sisters played music, and
those willing could write letters of support to political prisoners at a
special table in the event.

7th of July in club "Plan B" of Moscow, with support of OVD-Info,
Alexandr Litoy, Polina Nemirovskaya, Sergey Sharov-Delon and others
lectured how to deal with police.

Also, between 1st and 10th of July graffiti with and without stencils
was made in support of the political prisoners, in territory of various
Moscow institutions of higher education, in which lots of students and
teaching stuff are passing by.

Nizhni Novgorod: Pickets and benefit concert in support of Dmitry
Buchenkov and other political prisoners

In Nizhni Novgorod there were several events. During each of the first 6
days of July, there were pickets in main pedestrian zone of the city,
Bolshoy Pokrovskoy street. 2nd of July there was a benefit concert to
support imprisoned Russian anarchists. A special information stall was
made to spread information about imprisoned anarchist Dmitry Buchenkov.
Activists from "Autonomous resistance", socialists from RSD and
activists of Political Red Cross of Nizhni Novgorod took part to
solidarity actions.

Saint Petersburg: Pickets of left-wing feminists, concerts, movie
screenings and ABC Meetings

8th of July, in a framework of solidarity with political prisoners,
there were one-person pickets in several places of the city. One of
these places was memorial for the victims of political repressions at
Voskresenskiy embankment, next to infamous Kresty prison. Action was
organized by left-wing feminists. "Making a reference to Soviet
dissident movement, activists wanted to underline, that no matter the
collapse of the discredited USSSR regime, repressions have not ceased.
This is proven by the fact how actual are the lines of the authors of
the past epoch". Besides the pickets, there was a concert, several
meetings and movie screenings organized by Anarchist Black Cross, where
donations for prisoners were collected and solidarity letters were sent.

Crimea: A picket in Simferopol next to FSB and prosecutor's office

2nd of July there was a picket in Simferopol next to FSB administration
and prosecutors office of Crimea. Although an announcement of the
pickets was sent in prior to office of the head of Crimean republic and
Crimean council of ministers. Authorities did not allow the protest.
Eventually in the police was waiting for the picketers.
When anti-fascists began to raise placates, police approached and
claimed that they do not anything about permission to picket. Activists
went on anyway, and raised placates next to offices of FSB in Russian
and Crimea.
After 20 minutes of discussions with the police, it was decided to
change location and to go to the second place which was announced,
prosecutors office of Crimea.

On his way home from the picket, Alexey Shestakovich who organized the
action was arrested, together with Ivan Molotov. Shestakovich was
charged with misdemeanor charges of violating order of public meetings.
2nd of August Shestakovich was slapped with the maximum sentence of a
fine fo 20 000 rubles, that is around 270 euros. According to
Shestakovich, in Sevastopol pressure from protest group has managed to
gain civil liberties, but in Simferopol court system is a kangaroo
court, there is no any separation of powers whatsoever and protest
activities are very difficult.
and watch video

Ivanovo: solidarity pickets

1st of July, Ivanov section of the Left Block organised a picket of
solidarity to political prisoners. Not many gathered to local Hyde park,
but passers by paid attention to placates.
Main task was to send a message of importance of support of political
prisoners to people who passed by in cars and public transport and also
to show how unjust the current regime is. Freedom to political prisoners!

Chelyabinsk: a flying picket in park

In Chelyabinsk, a solidarity action was organised for our comrades,
imprisoned by regime and accused with trumped-up charges. Action took
place in Culture park, where many people are hanging around during weekend.
This is a difficult time for all of us, when the regime attempts to
maintain face of legality, fabricating most absurd criminal charges
against everyone who disagrees. It is more important than ever to
understand, that those who became victims of the system are not
forgotten, and their cause is alive. Solidarity is stronger than any prison!

Kaliningrad: Activist prepared and hanged a number of banners to busiest
streets of the city.

Pictures

Derry, Ireland: Bannerdrop in Free Derry Corner

Anarchists in Derry took part in a series of solidarity actions in a
show of international support and solidarity with anarchists and
antifascists imprisoned in Russia.

In Derry's Bogside area at Free Derry Corner, local anarchists took part
in a banner drop as part of this intenational call to support of our
Russian anarchist and anti-fascist comrades in a gesture of
international solidarity and to add our voice to call for their
immediate release.

Long live anarchy!
Ainrialachas abú!

During days international days of solidarity, plenty of people from most
different countries and cities supported our campaign and our comrades
in prison. All of this makes our will to struggle even stronger, and
gives power to our political prisoners to further fight for their rights
and freedom.

We would like to appeal all anarchists and antifascists. As this is a
difficult time, it is more important than ever to help our friends and
comrades behind bars. We know, that they are being constantly
humiliated, but they do not give up. We should never abandon our
prisoners, instead of it we should give three or ten times more support.
We also have to understand, that our solidarity should not be limited to
framework of separate days or campaigns, our support should be constant.

If you want to support political prisoner, you may organize various
events, concerts, fundraising, and you may support Anarchist Black Cross
in its struggle, make donation to fund of the ABC. Prisoners will
receive all of your support.
Long live international solidarity! Freedom to all political prisoners!

Financial support is needed for our comrades in prisons. ABC Moscow is
raising funds for solidarity. If you have any questions or propositions,
please write to [email protected]. This is also they paypal account of
the group.

Moscow Anarchist Black Cross
http://avtonom.org/abc
https://twitter.com/ABC_MOSCOW
https://www.facebook.com/abcmoscow/