Azat Miftakhov is being transferred to the colony where Alexei Navalny was murdered

Anarchist, mathematician, and political prisoner Azat Miftakhov was sentenced on March 28, 2024, to 4 additional years in prison. On September 4, 2023, he was detained upon leaving IK-17 in Omutninsk, Kirov region, where he had already served his first sentence—allegedly for breaking a window at a United Russia office in Moscow’s Khovrino district. The basis for the new prosecution for “justifying terrorism” was (allegedly) comments Azat made while watching a TV program with other inmates about anarchist Mikhail Zhlobitsky, who carried out an explosion at the FSB office in Arkhangelsk.

How will Russian left play a decisive role in changes in Russia?

Mikhail Lobanov: How will  Russian left play a decisive role in changes in Russia?

At the "Father Frost against Putin 2026" festival, January 10 2026, political and trade-union activist Mikhail Lobanov talked about what is happening to the active part of Russian society — and how Russian socialists and anarchists should make use of the growing demand for left-wing ideas in order to prepare for the future struggle to democratize Russia and the world.

Follow our Instagram in English

Autonomous Action, a Russian-speaking libertarian communist organisation since year 2002, has now an Instagram in English.

We hate Meta and other capitalist Mega corporations, but we choose our platforms according to reach, not according to purity of principles. In case you prefer horizontal non-profit platform, please follow our bilingual account in Mastodon.

“People are still stuck in this cage”

How did a young, successful programmer become a “terrorist” and “extremist”? How did prisoners and prison guards react to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? And why did some prisoners, even those who were in prison for desertion, go to war? Viktor Filinkov, a defendant in the “Network” case who got 7 years in prison, talked about this in an interview with Posle.

Congratulate imprisoned anarchist Ruslan Sidiki on his birthday March 16

He will turn 38 years old. Ruslan Sidiki is a citizen of Russia and Italy, an electrician from Ryazan, an explorer of industrial areas, bicycle traveler, anarchist, and partisan. Last year the 2nd Western District Military Court sentenced Ruslan Sidiki to a record 29 years in prison. Two acts of sabotage against Russian military infrastructure carried out by Ruslan in 2023 were classified by the court as “terrorist acts.”

New Fundraiser for the Defense of Anarchist Ruslan Sidiki

Anarchist Ruslan Sidiki, who was sentenced to 29 years in prison, continues to await his appeal in the Ryazhsk pre-trial detention center (SIZO) in the Ryazan region.

But this is not just waiting — it is a constant struggle. Ruslan is being denied access to books, newspapers subscribed in his name do not reach him, and for the second time in a row the same investigator has refused to open a criminal case regarding the torture Ruslan endured during his arrest.

Antifascist Bogdan Yakimenko Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison

Other Defendants in the Antifa United Case Receive 2.5 and 3.5 Years.

Judge Ekaterina Stepina of the Izmailovsky District Court of Moscow delivered a verdict to three antifascists in the case of Antifa United, which law enforcement agencies—and now the court as well—consider an “extremist community.”

Short introduction to the Finnish party system

In September 2024, I gave a presentation in Dresden about struggles against the right-wing government in Finland. Freedom published a text based on that presentation last September, but due to character limitations I had to skip an introduction to the Finnish party system. This background is necessary for understanding the emergence of right-wing populism in Finland and why it was accepted into government.

Congratulate anarchist political prisoner and anarchist Danil Chertykov on his birthday!

On February 8, Danil Chertykov turns 32 years old. He is celebrating his birthday in captivity for 4th time.

Danil Chertykov is an anarchist and antifascist from Yekaterinburg. He worked as a veterinarian, and in his free time devoted himself to music, playing guitar in the riot-folk band Rocker Balboa.

A new fundraiser to pay for a new lawyer for antifascist Anton Kalakin

Anton is currently being held at Detention Center No. 1 (SIZO-1) in Irkutsk. He needs qualified legal assistance in order to challenge the verdict of the Second District Military Court, which in October sentenced him to six years in prison over two comments posted on Telegram.

Anton left the first comment in the Telegram channel “Irkutsk Blog” in July 2024. Under a post about Governor Igor Kobzev, who considers spending on the war to be a higher priority than repairing schools, Anton wrote:

 Good news in the new year: the fundraising campaign for Ruslan Sidiki’s defense has been completed

In less than two months, you have donated 235,000 rubles (2600 euros) for Ruslan Sidiki’s legal defense. We have already paid the lawyer’s fees for November and December, and the remaining amount will cover expenses through the end of February.

Russia designates Telegram channel run by teenage anarchists as a terrorist organization

The lawsuit was filed by the acting prosecutor of Zabaykalsky Krai, Stanislav Nemtsov. The defendants were Chita-based anarchists Aleksandr Snezhkov and Lyubov Lizunova. According to their support group, they were declared the “leaders” of the association. Anarchists took part in the court hearing on January 20 via video link.

The Parents’ Day. Dmitry Petrov talks about his book and about his son

November 3 2025 Dmitry Petrov Senior – writer, journalist, and anarchist activist – presented his book The Parents’ Day in Helsinki.
It tells the story of his son, Dmitry Petrov (Leshy) Junior, a Russian anarchist and volunteer who went to fight for Ukraine and went missing while defending Bakhmut.

Listen in SoundCloud

Russian anti-war / anti-Putin activism in emigration: strategies, integration, obstacles and solutions Lecture by Lölja Nordic in Father Frost against Putin festival in Helsinki

4:25 PM - 6:00 PM
January 10, 2026
Oranssi, Kaasutehtaankatu 1, Helsinki

Who needs Russian grassroots activism abroad? What use is there from it and what is its meaning? “Your actions don’t influence anything” is a common
statement not only from the mouthpieces of Russian propaganda, but also, unfortunately, among Russian civil society.

Festival program is now released! The Father Frost Against Putin 2026 Festival will take place on January 10 in Helsinki

 Festival program is now released!

Father Frost Against Putin 2026 is a festival where Russian speakers living in Finland and beyond, Finns, and people of other nationalities come together to talk about freedom, solidarity, and a future without war.

YouTube as a Tool of Resistance — a lecture by Nika Vodvud at the festival Father Frost against Putin in Helsinki

12 PM - 13:35 PM (Helsinki time)
January 10, Oranssi, Kaasutehtaankatu 1
Free entry

YouTube can still — and should — be used for activism. Nika Vodwood (nixelpixel) will talk about approaches and tools that help you use algorithms to your advantage, find your audience, and create YouTube videos on social and political topics. At the end, she will answer any questions during the Q&A.

Russia plans to declare anti-war Telegram channel a “terrorist organisation”

Repression targets Chita anarchists already jailed for war resistance and anti-regime graffiti

The regional prosecutor’s office for the Trans-Baikal region in eastern Siberia has submitted a petition to a local court to recognize the “Trans-Baikal Left Association” as a terrorist organisation. The petition refers to the telegram channel 75zlo, allegedly maintained by jailed anarchists Aleksandr Snezhkov and Lyubov Lizunova, which the petition asks to declare as “leaders” of this association.

The mother of antifascist Anton Kalakin, sentenced to six years for two comments, visited him in Irkutsk Prison-1

 

According to the support group, Irina Viktorovna's date with Anton took place on December 3. According to her, his condition is "more or less ok" and much better than during the last meeting. In November, when she first visited Anton after his sentence, he did not smiled once.

Columns

Антти Раутиайнен

In September 2024, I gave a presentation in Dresden about struggles against the right-wing government in Finland. Freedom published a text based on that presentation last September, but due to character limitations I had to skip an introduction to the Finnish party system. This background is...

2 months ago
Антти Раутиайнен

Repression targets Chita anarchists already jailed for war resistance and anti-regime graffiti The regional prosecutor’s office for the Trans-Baikal region in eastern Siberia has submitted a petition to a local court to recognize the “Trans-Baikal Left Association” as a terrorist...

3 months ago
Антти Раутиайнен

Thousands of Russians have been fighting against the invasion to Ukraine. During first month of protests against the war, 15 000 people were detained. Small street actions are still sporadically taking place, although they are heavily persecuted. More than 300 people have been imprisoned for anti-...

4 months ago
ДИАна - Движени...

Translation: volunteers of Autonomous Action. «» The history of solidarity networks in Russia began in 2013, when activists from Autonomous Action and Antijob, most likely members of the Barnaul cell, found information on the internet about the Seattle Solidarity Networks. After studying...

5 months ago