Тюрьмы

Alexei Gaskarov: Many People Ask Whether I Am Going to Take up Politics. But What Politics Are There Nowadays?

Olesya Gerasimenko
Snob
November 1, 2016

Between 1st and 10th of July, international days of solidarity for political prisoners of Putin's police state took place in 22 cities of 10 different countries.

The topic of prison caste system is often raised in the media in recent times, it is often discussed in connection with the political prisoners. However, almost all who write on the subject, know about it at best from the stories of former inmates or use common social stereotypes. As a result, there are often a lot of blunders and false representation.

The aim of this article is to illuminate some aspects of this complex and multifaceted phenomenon the informal hierarchy in Belarus prisons.

Within days of  actions with the anarchists and anti-fascists imprisoned in Russia actions in the city of Malmyo in the south of the country and in at the youth festival  "Peace & Love Festivalen"  in the city of Burlenge have taken place.

In Malmyo on the building opposite to the central railway station two banners have been hung out: Destroy police stay (Down with a police state) and Free Putins's prisoners (Freedom to Putin's prisoners).

From 1 to July 10, 2016, a call to action in solidarity with anarchists and antifascists imprisoned-e-s in Russia was made by the Anarchist Black Cross of Moscow. Indeed, the political and repressive situation in Russia is very hard for our comrades fighting for anarchism and fascism (and more generally for all those fighting for human rights), and many of them found themselves es imprisoned in high security prisons or labor camps because of their activism, often condemned es for terrorism or violence.

After Tel Aviv, Helsinki joined the solidarity campaign. A picket in the center of the city was organised. 1st of July, in the opposite side of the railway station, around 10 anarchists stood with a banner "Freedom to Crimean prisoners" (Vapaus Krimin vangeille) with pictures of Oleg Sentsov and Alexandr Kolchenko, and "Freedom for all political prisoners" (in English). Few hundred leaflets were spread.

July 2nd, in Simferopol near the FSB and Crimean prosecutor’s offices activists held pickets as a part of International Days of Solidarity with political anarchist and anti-fascist prisoners. Authorities had not confirmed pickets, and police had been at the venue.

Despite these facts, activists uncovered placards near the FSB office. After 20 minutes of quarrels with the police, activists decided to change their position and met Crimean prosecutor’s office with a single picket.

In the Spanish capital Madrid, anarchists and anti-fascists joined the campaign of solidarity with political prisoners in Russia

Friday July 1st hung a large banner at the front of squatted social center and self-managed "The Casika" (Mostoles, Madrid), the goal to make visible the situation of anarchists and anti-fascists imprisoned comrades in Russia !!! also we inform interested with a dossier on paper!

Against state repression, international solidarity !!! Down the prison walls!

When mass civil protests in Russia were defeated in 2011-12 the Putinist police regime started open political repressions against militants of social and political movements, including anarchists and antifascists. Many activists have been sentenced to prison terms in the course of the last 5 years in Russia.  

The very first court hearing since the Fenix started will take a place in Czech Republic Prague city court on April 26-27th. The court is about the case of Igor Shevcov. An anarchist accused of fabricated attack on the house of minister of defense.

During this so called attack nothing was damaged and no one got hurt. In the time of incident – which the ministers son mentioned in his first testimony – Igor could not be physically near by the house.

Dmitry Buchenkov, PhD in political sciences, antifascist, anarchist and boxing coach, has been under arrest for already more than three months in “Vodnik” remand prison. Investigators suspect him of participating in the riots of May 6, 2012 at Bolotnaya Square in Moscow. The absurdity of the accusation against Dmitry Buchenkov is quite evident: he had been in Nizhny Novgorod on that day, more than 300 km away from Moscow, but he was arrested anyway despite the alibi.

How do you spend your day in prison?

Helsinki Anarchist Black Cross and A-ryhmä will organize
a prisoner support kitchen on Sunday 20.3. in Kupoli!
(Mannerheimintie 5b, 7th floor)

We will watch a film called Papillon, that is based on an autobiographical
book by an anarchist Henri Carriere; A prisoner called Papillon (1970).

A well-known antifascist and anarchist Dmitry Buchenkov, PhD in political science, was arrested in Moscow in December 2015. He is suspected of participating in the riots of May 6, 2012. More than 400 persons were arrested as a result of a mass protest action against Putin’s politics that took place on May 6, 2012 in Moscow. Dmitry was not in Moscow on that day, he was in Nizhny Novgorod, more than 300 km away from Moscow.

At the beginning of December, Dmitry Buchenkov became the latest person in Russia’s ‘Bolotnaya Case’, a series of investigations and trials into Russia’s opposition now in its fourth year.

Russian authorities have upped the ante in their pressure on anarchists from “Autonomous Action” movement as of late – this includes a new prisoner charged with the Bolotnaya Square case, Dmitry Buchenkov,

"OVD-INFO" (russian NGO which observes police repressions) has found photos of Bolotnaya Square on May 6, 2012. In the center the person in black "which in Investigative committee (Russian analog of FBI) is considered to be Dmitry Buchenkov". According to Buchenkov's companions, it is obviouslu another person. Any person who has seen Dmitry Buchenkov at least once, would understand that there is different person on this photo.

Human rights activists found the new person involved in "Bolotnaya Square case" who was looked for four days by relatives and the lawyer. I remember how three years ago we counted arrested of "bolotnik": the first, the second, thirteenth, eighteenth. Then some of arrested were released — it appeared that they have an alibi and on Bolotnaya Square on May 6 they weren't.

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On Sunday 29th November Helsinki ABC & comrades organise support kitchen for animal rights prisoners from 4pm to 6pm in Kupoli.

There will be information about people jailed because of defending animal rights, possibility to write support letters and also other material about political prisoners.

In menu egyptian lentil stew koshar with rice, green salad and dessert.

Welcome!!

In Kupoli, Uusi ylioppilastalo, Mannerheimintie 5 B 7th floor.

Food served 4PM, Lecture 4:30PM

Mannerheimintie 5 B 7. krs. 

Food will be served from 4pm and from 4.30 we'll show a new documentary film about Strangeways's prison riot (1h), discussion afterwards. There's also a possibility to write support letters to prisoners. Welcome!

Kupoli is unfortunately not very accesible.

MENU
Pea soup
Oven pancake with jam
Green salad

Coffee, tea, bread etc.