Fundraiser for Those Who Escaped by Anarchist Black Cross Moscow

Support those who managed to avoid prison but ended up in forced exile.

This year, ABC-Moscow helped several anarchists facing criminal prosecution in Russia to safely leave the country. After evacuation, people find themselves in a new reality: without housing, without health insurance, and without a stable income. And even if the journey out of Russia is already behind them, difficult months still lie ahead — waiting for visas and legal status, searching for lawful employment, and dealing with everyday and medical needs.

Today, December 18 is Birthday of political prisoner, anarchist Alexey Grigoriev

He is turning 29. Alexey is a musician from Novotroitsk in Russia’s Orenburg region. In his youth, he wanted to become a soldier, and after an unsuccessful attempt to enroll in an airborne military school, he voluntarily went to serve his compulsory military service. During that time, his views evolved first toward Marxism, and later he came to identify himself as an anarchist.

Anti-war resistance in Russia and anarchists

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-war activities, including six anarchists and antifascists. What are the current anti-war initiatives in Russia to follow? How to support Russian anti-war movement, which is operating in more and more repressive circumstances? Why Russian anti-war movement has this far failed to change the course of war?

Fundraiser: 2200 euros for three months of legal work for Ruslan Sidiki

Anarchist Ruslan Sidiki remains in detention — and we continue to support him. Right now we need to raise 200,000 rubles to pay for his lawyer’s work for the next three months. When someone is held in a pre-trial detention center (SIZO), this is the most expensive period to provide support. At the same time, it’s also when there are more opportunities — for the defense, regular lawyer visits, and filing appeals.

Statement from Russian-speaking anarchists to Western anarchist initiatives: listen to the Ukrainian comrades!

Statement from Russian-speaking anarchists to Western anarchist initiatives: listen to the Ukrainian comrades! (image by Xadad)

This text is a collective statement of Russian-speaking anarchist collectives (see the list of signatories below). It should have been published even earlier, but now it’s really the time for a consolidated statement about the war in Ukraine. We do not claim to represent the stance of each and every anarchist from Russia, but the need for a clear position, and contradictions associated with the war in Ukraine lead to the necessity to act as a united movement.

“Fires of freedom” will take part in the annual Anarchist Book Fair Amsterdam (ABFA)

On 22–23 November, the annual Anarchist Book Fair Amsterdam will take place, featuring workshops and presentations by horizontal initiatives from around the world.

At the fair you will be able to getFires of freedom” merch, as well as try — on a donation basis — the prison-style DIY korjak cake and the detainees’ drink chifir.

Irkutsk anti-fascist Anton Kalakin was sentenced by the military court to six years in prison for two comments

Anton Kalakin is known as Anton 69 in the Irkutsk punk community. He works odd jobs: most recently, he worked as a security guard and repaired boats. He participated in solidarity events, attended punk concerts, helped homeless animals, was interested in local history, and ran a public page about the history of Irkutsk. He lived with his mother.

Presentation on Anti-War Resistance in Russia and Anarchists at the Bristol Anarchist Bookfair, November 1

On Saturday, the Bristol Anarchist Bookfair will take place at The Elmgrove Centre (Elmgrove Road, Bristol, BS6 6AH) from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The event will feature 20 free workshops and presentations, including Anti-War Resistance in Russia and Anarchists by Antti Rautiainen in the Frome Room.

Support the Legendary Anarchist Ilya Romanov

Former political prisoner and anarchist Ilya Romanov is in need of our help. After 20 years of imprisonment in Ukraine and Russia, a stroke, and numerous surgeries, he remains severely disabled — yet he refuses to give up. Ilya continues to paint, stay in touch with friends, and keeps his sharp mind and sense of humor.

ABC Moscow Benefit gig in Helsinki with Unicorn Partisans & Stinkbird

Benefit concert for Anarchist Black Cross of Moscow and letter writing for anarchist political prisoners in Russia at Ulrika, Leppäsuonkatu 11. November 8. Anarchist Black Cross of Moscow is  supporting anarchist and anti-fascist prisoners in Russia since 2003.

Facebook event

In Chita a new trial starts against Alexander Snezhkov

On October 22, 2025, the Second District Military Court in Chita will start hearing a new criminal case against anarchist Alexander Snezhkov. This time, he is charged under of “Public calls for terrorist activity, public justification, or propaganda of terrorism.” The article carries a penalty of up to 500,000 rubles (circa 5000 euros) in fines or two to five years in prison.

Dmitry Osyagin Turned Out Not to Be an Anarchist — He Considers Himself an Anti-War Democrat

Action by Osyagin

The Anarchist Black Cross of Moscow has received information that Dmitry Osyagin does not identify himself as an anarchist or an anti-fascist — he considers himself an anti-war democrat. The reason why the security services attributed to him participation in the “Combat Organization of Anarcho-Communists” (BOAK) is currently unknown. It may be due to the authorities’ desperation to announce the arrest of at least one member of this elusive underground organization.

Statement of the Anarchist Black Cross Moscow on Ruslan Sidiki

Anarchist Ruslan Sidiki, who was sentenced to 29 years in prison over two sabotage actions against the Russian war machine, openly stated that he contacted Ukrainian military intelligence in order to organize an attack on the Russian air base in Dyagilevo, where strategic bombers are stationed. In published letters he explained his motive:

Fundraiser to support anarchist Kirill Bobrov!

Anarcho-syndicalist from Ufa Kirill Bobrov has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for participating in the arson of the United Russia party office and for creating an "extremist community" in 2012. The criminal case over the arson was opened 13 years ago. Kirill left the country at that time, but in 2023 he returned to Russia for personal reasons and was arrested right at the airport.

Struggles against the right-wing government in Finland

Two years of anti-government protests raise questions about organising around collective struggles

This article, edited and published by Freedom, has been adapted from a lecture given at anarchist days, Dresden, 21st September 2024. It has been updated with recent developments. The lecture is available on YouTube and Spotify.

Talks in London and Brighton on Anarchist Prisoners in Russia

On Saturday, September 20, the Anarchist Bookfair will take place in London — one of the main annual events of the anarchist movement in England. As part of the program, Antti Rautiainen will give a talk titled “Anarchism and Anti-War Resistance in Russia.”

Time: 11:00–12:45

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