In June, the Fires of Freedom took part in seven events across France. At each event, project representative and former political prisoner Ivan Astashin spoke about the connection between the war in Ukraine and political repression in Russia, Russian anarchists' opposition to the war, and the criminal cases brought against them.
In some cities, the events also featured representatives of ABC-Moscow and the Solidarité Free Azat association, former Russian political prisoner Natasha Tyshkevich, and Ada, a member of the Confederation of Anarchists of Yekaterinburg who fled Russia in 2025 to escape persecution.
Bordeaux, June 9
The tour began at Fantoche Café, where around 50 people attended, nearly filling the small venue.
Before the presentation, the organizers screened a film about struggles in different parts of the world and spoke about a campaign against the construction of a deportation detention center near the city. This immediately set the tone of international solidarity for the evening.
After the presentation, the audience spent a long time asking questions about the situation in Russia, the persecution of anarchists, and resistance to the war. Members of the local Russian-speaking community also organized a letter-writing session for prisoners in Russia.
For the tour participants, this was an inspiring start, demonstrating that discussions about war, repression, and solidarity are both needed and warmly received.
Limoges, June 11
In the small city of Limoges, the tour participants were welcomed by a close-knit local community.
The event took place in a newly opened space that had not yet even been given a name, making it its very first public event.
Around 20 people attended, creating an intimate atmosphere. After the presentation, questions gradually turned into an informal discussion that continued late into the evening. The audience listened attentively and actively participated, while the tour participants exchanged contacts with a local anti-prison group.
Paris, June 12–13
At two French-language events, each attended by around 20 people, representatives of the Solidarité Free Azat association joined the tour.
At CICP, alongside the main presentation, a French mathematician explained how Azat Miftakhov, while imprisoned, solved a mathematical problem that had previously remained unsolved.
The following day, at the anarchist bookstore Publico, the speakers included association president Maria-Letizia Garrick and Alexandra Zapolskaya. Azat's story became the starting point for a discussion about the methods Russian authorities use to persecute political opponents and silence dissent.
Both events were followed by many questions. The discussion at Publico lasted particularly long, making it clear that for part of the audience, both the situation in Russia and the war against Ukraine were still not fully understood. The tour participants hope these meetings helped people better understand what is happening and see the connection between the war, repression, and resistance.
Paris, June 14
On this day, a Russian-language meeting was held at the Turgenev Library. The decision to organize it was made at a late stage of planning the tour.
Six people attended, and the small format allowed the event to develop into a substantive discussion rather than a standard presentation. Among those present were human rights advocates and activists, making the meeting less of a lecture and more of an exchange of experience, information, and collective reflection on difficult questions.
Saint-Étienne, June 16
The event was organized by a close-knit local community centered around a space with a strong DIY culture—from homemade equipment to merchandise printed on second-hand clothing, which participants sold for donations to support anarchist prisoners in Russia.
Before the presentation, volunteers prepared crêpes, and around 25 people attended the event. After the talk, the tour participants answered questions and continued informal conversations with the audience.
Marseille, June 18
The program in Marseille differed from those in the other cities.
Alongside Fires of Freedom representative and former political prisoner Ivan Astashin, the speakers included Natasha Tyshkevich, a defendant in the DOXA case, and Ada, a member of the Confederation of Anarchists of Yekaterinburg who fled Russia in 2025 to escape persecution.
Natasha and Ada spoke about their own experiences of political persecution and the pressure faced by the anarchist community in Russia.
Local organizers prepared full vegan meals, with part of the ingredients donated by a local anti-authoritarian cooperative. The funds raised were divided between Fires of Freedom and a Ukrainian anti-authoritarian collective.
Many people in the audience were already well informed about the war against Ukraine and political repression in Russia, so after the formal presentations, the discussion naturally continued in informal conversations.
Tour Results
For Fires of Freedom, the main goal of the tour was to inform primarily French-speaking anti-authoritarian audiences about the war in Ukraine, political repression in Russia and the occupied territories, the connections between them, and the resistance to both.
Judging by the questions and discussions, there is indeed a lack of information on these issues, which we were able to help address in the places we visited. In some cases, it was possible to see people arrive at a deeper understanding of what is happening.
At every event, participants exchanged contact information, hoping these new connections will become the basis for further information sharing and joint initiatives.
During the tour, €1,363 was raised through donations, food sales, and merchandise. An additional €180 was provided by the organizers in Bordeaux to help cover travel costs.
Of the funds received, €636 was spent on transportation. After deducting these expenses, as well as approximately €240 spent on producing merchandise, €667 remained to support anarchist and anti-fascist prisoners in Russia.
All photographs, including the cover image, were taken at the meeting held at the anarchist bookstore Publico in Paris.
Anarchist Black Cross Moscow
You may find the contact addresses of all prisoners in Russia supported by Anarchist Black Cross Moscow here. If you want to make a donation to a particular prisoner or case, please contact us beforehand via e-mail to make sure that the supporters of the prisoner or case are currently gathering donations, our e-mail is the same as the listed PayPal account. We are present in Telegram and Facebook, you may sign up to our e-mail newsletter here.
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