Anarchist Black Cross

This video is filmed at Bike rally for Russian political prisoners arranged in Helsinki Finland on 7th September. Many of the by-passers cheered when the bike rally passed by. The demonstrators ringed their bells, chanted and played drums. The route started from Kolmen sepän patsas and ended in the Russian embassy in Tehtaankatu, where the demonstrators cycled around the embassy and afterwards listened few speeches of the situation of the political prisoners in Russia. Mainly the demonstration rally went well and with good ambience.

We invite everyone who are concerned of political situation in Russia to join us for bicycle rally, which starts from 3 Seppää statue in Mannerheimintie saturday September 7th 4 pm. We will provide flags that you can stick to your bike. But we really appreciate if you bring your own sign or flag for your bike.

Same day before the rally we have info about political prisoners in Russia between 13.45-15.45. 

On 22 August 2012, the anti-fascist Pyotr Silaev was arrested in Grenada. He is an activist in anti-governmental protests, and the author of the book “Exodus” (published in Finland, Greece, Italy and Germany), under the pseudonym DJ Stalingrad. Pyotr took part in the infamous protests in Khimki, which for some protestors ended in jail or hospital (as it did for the renowned journalist Oleg Kashin, who was attacked with baseball bats near his home).

Four anarchist anti-fascists from Kazan, Oleg Kapustyanov, Ruslan Rostov, Timur Dornonin and Artyom Sher are currently in remand prison. Fifth suspect, Dmitri Ilichev is under traveling restrictions. Goal of the imprisonment is to pressure them to plea guilty.

Russian police attacked an international youth meeting near Apatity (Murmansk Region, Russian Federation)

27th of June 2013, arrest of Irina was prolonged until 2nd of October. She was arrested 2nd of July 2012, so now Irina has already spent more than one year in prison without a court! Arrest of Irina was prolonged due to dubious claims of her alleged "victims" that they still have not acquintanced themselves with the results of the investigation. 

In the end of the international solidarity week for Alexey Gaskarov and prisoners of 6th of May, a group of supporters in Helsinki locked the car entrance of Russian embassy in Helsinki - as long as our comrades are in captivity, the cars of Russian diplomats should stay in captivity as well.

19th of June Moscow city court accepted appeal of criminal investigators to release Alexey Sutuga trial pending with a condition of a bail.

Dmitri Zvanko  – is anti-fascist from Brest. He was arrested 9th of May 2013, as one of 5 anti-fascists who were suspected of a fight with far-right activists the day before. Arrested anti-fascists were beaten up and put under psychological pressure, Dmitri failed a complaint on his treatment although he was pressured not to do so. 19th of May four of the arrested were released, but Dmitri was charged with statute 339.3 of the Belarusian criminal codex (malicious hooliganism with a group of people), which carries a prison sentence from 3 to 10 years.

7th of June, anti-fascist Alexey "Shkobar" Olesinov was released pending trial. Moscow city court made a decision on appeal against arrest, filled by Olesinov's lawyer Svetlana Sidorkina. Court released Olesinov, as most serious charges against him (Causing grievous bodily harm, statute 111 of the Russian criminal codex) were dropped in late May. 

Member of Autonomous Action, anarchist Alexey Sutuga has been remanded for more than a year. Police has intentionally delayed the investigation, they were only working on the case for the first 2-3 months of the arrest, and since then investigation has stalled. Formally Alexey is accused according to statute "hooliganism" of Russian criminal codex, for having taken part to a fight during an anti-fascist concert.

Free Alexei Gaskarov and the Prisoners of May 6!

It is late, but I still want to congratulate all the comrades and friends with May Day and the Day of Liberation of the world from the Nazi threat in the memorable days of 1945. The symbolism of the holidays for me is still an important part of those ideas that I live for, although already the second year in a row I am unable to take part in their celebrations. But even in prison, they are life-affirming, as most of the people who surround me here could stand with me in the same column in freedom, shoulder to shoulder.

Alexei Gaskarov, a Russian social activist and economist, was arrested in Moscow on April 27, 2013. Having gained fame as an anti-fascist, he has over the past two years become a visible young public politician thanks to his energy, intelligence, passion, and commitment.

Short program summary

Saturday 8th of June

-Short introduction and discussion about Prisonless utopia - anarchist solutions to criminality at 5 pm.

-Documentaries at 7 pm.

-Bands starting at 9 pm.

Sunday 9th of June

-Food 3 PM

-Talk Struggle against prisons in Spain 4 PM

-Gig in the evening

More detailed program

Saturday 8th of June

On saturday June 8th in Kupoli, Helsinki University (Mannerheimintie 5b, 7th floor) 

In the evening of 14th of April, comrade V.N. was seriously wounded. He was attacked by a group of 5 Nazis in the region of the metro station Dorogožitsi. Young "patriots" used knives and cut arteries of activist in three places, and also knocked out several teeth. Besides these, V.N. got a brain concussion.

On anniversary of protests in prior to inauguration of Putin in Moscow, a demonstration for Russian political prisoners was organised in Helsinki by Free Pussy Riot Helsinki and local group of Anarchist Black Cross. From 4 to 6 PM info stall was held in statue of Three Smiths in the very center of the city.

In winter and spring of 2011-2012, biggest protest movement since times of the collapse of the Soviet Union gathered tens and thousands of people to streets of Russia. For a while, movement was tolerated by those in power. But 6th of May 2012, a day in prior to inauguration of Vladimir Putin, authorities moved to crush the movement.

On sunday, the 28th of April 2013, a well-known Russian anti-fascist, Alexey Gaskarov, was arrested in Moscow. He is a member of the Coordination Council of Russian opposition. The investigation committee of the Russian Federation has accused him of having pacticipated in riots and violence against representative of authorities on the 6th of May 2012, when OMON (Russian riot police) attacked a peaceful demonstration.

In Helsinki 12th of May, Kupoli of Uusi Ylioppilastalo (Mannerheimintie 5 B 7th floor). Food served 3 PM, lecture starts at 4 PM.

Some have paid dearly for fighting against capitalism, racists or environmental destruction. Anarchist Black Cross of Helsinki will tell about situation of anarchist and anti-authoritarian prisoners across the world. During the event, support mail is also written to prisoners.

In facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/367299983381305/