Anarchist Black Cross

Sentence confirmed for the first arson attack on a Russian military enlistment office: 13 years imprisonment

Kirill Butylin carried out the first known arson attack on a military enlistment office following the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. On 28th of  February 2022 the young man threw Molotov cocktails at the enlistment office in the town of Lukhovitsa in the Moscow region.

Fundraising for punk-rock musician Yaroslav Vilchevski, accused of justification of terrorism

On the 4th of January 2023 32 year old Yaroslav Vilchevski was arrested for posting on his telegram channel about the anarchist Mikhail Zhobitski. Radio Liberty has called him an anarchist, but himself he is identifying himself as animal rights activist and musician. Radio Liberty has quoted some of his comments, and he has also criticized the mass mobilization when it was announced in Russia.

19 years for anti-war arson

10th of April, the Central District Military Court in Yekaterinburg sentenced Roman Nasryev and Aleksey Nureyev to 19 years in prison for firebombing an administrative building, where the military registration desk is based. Roman and Aleksey must spend the first 4 years in prison, and the next — in a maximum-security penal colony.

This is the most severe sentence handed down so far for anti-war arson.

Fundraising to pay for a lawyer for Boris Goncharenko, a person in Krasnodar accused of burning down the military registration and enlistment office

On the night of October 6 in Goryachi Klyuch city of Krasnodar region unknown persons set fire to military registration and enlistment office. The next day the law enforcers detained two suspects.

The detainees turned out to be 27-year-old citizen of Minsk (Belarus) Bogdan Abdurakhmanov and 34-year-old resident of Krasnodar Boris Goncharenko.

Solidarity Zone began supporting Ilya Baburin, accused of organizing the arson of the military registration and enlistment office

Ilya is a young guy from Novosibirsk. He opposes war, loves animals and plays sports: from CrossFit to swimming. Ilya was detained at the end of September and accused of trying to set fire to the military enlistment office. The case was opened under the article on the organization of a terrorist attack (part 4 of article 205.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), which provides punishment from 15 to 20 years in jail or life imprisonment.

Ruslan Zinin Sent to Solitary Confinement

Ruslan Zinin’s mother Marina Zinina has reported that on March 21 [her son] was transferred to a solitary confinement cell without explanation.

“They came and took him away, saying, ‘Let’s go to another place.’ They put him in the basement in a solitary confinement cell. […] The conditions are terrible. It’s damp and cold and reeks of sewage, and rats are running around, and there’s nothing in the cell at all, except for a cot. There’s nowhere to store food, nowhere to get water, there’s no kettle, there’s nothing.”

Spring Fundraiser for Political Prisoner Viktor Filinkov

Fundraiser for continuing Viktor “Vitya” Filinkov’s campaign against the FSIN, the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service!

I haven’t written here for a long time generally and about Vitya in particular. We haven’t seen each other for almost two months. That’s an awfully long time, and I miss him terribly. Soon I will fly back to Orenburg and tell you how Vitya is doing, but after meeting with him.

ABC Irkutsk: support the revolutionary prisoners of Siberia!

Alexander Snezhkov and Lyubov Lizunova

Eastern Siberia is a harsh and inhospitable region, which was a place of imprisonment and exile for socialists and anarchists under the tsarist regime. As you can see, history repeats itself.

Here is how the Anarchist Black Cross of Irkutsk sums up the year of its work. It actually coincided with the anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine:

Ruslan Zinin Charged with “Terrorism”

Logging truck driver Ruslan Zinin grabbed a sawed-off shotgun when, in the wake of the “partial” mobilization’s annoucement, a summons arrived for his brother. On September 26, Zinin went to the military enlistment office in Ust-Ilimsk (Irkutsk Region). Military commissar Alexander Yeliseyev was giving a speech as he dispatched dozens of people to the slaughter.

The Court began to consider the case against Roman Nasryev and Alexey Nuriev

On the night of October 11, 2022, fire was set to the administration office of the town of Bakal in Chelyabinsk region with Molotov cocktails. The building housed a military registration office.

On the same day, Roman Nasryev and Alexey Nuriev were detained on suspicion of arson. At first they were accused of "destruction or damage to property", but the FSB took over the case and the charges were reclassified to "terrorist act". Later an article on "training for the purpose of terrorist activity" was added to the charges.

The photo shows Nasryev on the left.

Kirill Brik is under a threat of torture – call to prison!

Kirill has been transferred to a remand prison in Tyumen. Support group sent a lawyer to discuss with him, but a letter of refusal was passed to lawyer 7th of March. Refusal was in handwriting of Kirill Brik, but we do not know in which conditions the letter has been signed, and there is no proof that Kirill is currently not being tortured.

Please call to remand prison of Tyumen, this way they will know that we are watching how they plan to treat Kirill:: +73452507104

Solidarity zone: What did we do in February?

Throughout February, like the previous months, we worked day in and day out, covering the persecution and providing support for those accused of anti-war activities. We were so immersed in work that we did not notice how the shortest month of the year ended. And now, with a little delay, we rush to tell you about the results of February.

In February, the participants of Solidarity Zone:

Terrorist charge for attempted suicide. Who are Anton Zhuchkov and Vladimir Sergeev?

On March 6, 2022, Zhuchkov and Sergeev went to an anti-war demonstration in Moscow. However, the police detained them on their way: in the area of Pushkinskaya Square. Molotov cocktails were found in Sergeyev's backpack, and the men were taken to the police station.

The Lord of the Rings: “Trends of order and chaos”, episode 87 (6 January)

Hi everyone! Today is Friday, 6th of January, a day when all the New Year’s salads are already eaten, and we continue our podcast of trends of order and chaos”. This is episode 87. These are the main topics on past two weeks’ (due to New Year) agenda.

Last day of crowdfunding for Russian anti-war prisoners – some additional funds still needed

Vladimir Sergeev and Anton Zhuchkov

After Russia invaded Ukraine on the 24th of February, the anti-war movement spread to every corner of the country with demonstrations and direct actions. During the first 3 months of the war, more than 16,000 people were detained in the daily demonstrations. Many got immediate, short prison sentences without due process, as well as fines, and several felony cases were also opened. As demonstrating has become ingreasingly difficult, more people have begun relying on direct action as their tactic, such as arson attacks against military draft centers and railway sabotage actions.

Author columns

Антти Раутиайнен

June 11th is the International Day of Solidarity with Marius Mason & All Long-Term Anarchist Prisoners. This action day has a long history, it was organized first time 20 years ago in 2004. In the first year, we managed to paint a graffiti to wall of one of the most guarded objects of Moscow,...

4 months ago
Антти Раутиайнен

Anarchist group ANA Regensburg hosted my online-presentation on 16th of May 2024, in which I discussed tactics of anti-war activism in Russia, and reasons why the anti-war movement has not been able to make an impact to change the course of events yet. Cases of anarchists repressed for anti-war...

4 months ago