Anarchist Black Cross

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/

In the evening of 14th of April, social activist V.N. was seriously wounded in Kiev. He was assaulted by 5 Nazis in the area of metro station Dorozhichi. Young patriots used knives and cutted three times arteries in the legs of the activist. V.N. also lost teeth and suffered a brain concussion.

If it was not purpose of attackers to murder, at least they attempted to permanently main activist who takes active part to anti-government, anti-capitalist and animal right actions. V-N. lost much blood, but due to an operation made in time, his life is no more in a danger.

Last autumn, a longstanding case against Nizhni Novgorod anti-fascists was returned to investigation, and for a while it seemed like a final victory . However, in contrary to these expectations, the case returned to court this spring and things do not look too good.

At 8:00 a.m. 3rd of April, the officers from the Centre Against Extremism came with a search warrant to 4 adresses of Kazan antifascists.

Anarchist total objector Topi Lauko began his prison sentence 18th of
December in a low-security prison. He was transferred to a half-way house, maintained by Siltavalmennus NGO, in second half of February. Although in half-way house the conditions of detention are not harsh, he would still be happy to correspond with comrades around the world. He will be finally released 24th of April 2013.

Topi Louko
Vehnämyllynkatu 4
33560 Tampere Finland

Currently we have addresses of 15 anarchist, anti-authoritarian or anti-fascist political prisoners, or their supporters in Russia and Belarus. Of these, 14  are interested to receive letters of support.

Situation with prisoners is evolving all the time, and we do not have addresses of most recently arrested comrades. Please keep visiting our prisoner list at http://wiki.avtonom.org/en/index.php/Category:Prisoners_in_former_Soviet_Union for most up to date information.

Our friend Oleg is threatened with 5 years in prison, as he is facing charges according to statutes 213 (hooliganism) and 116 parts 2a, 2b (battery) of Russian criminal codex. Person who claims to be the victim is leader of leading far-right organisation of Kazan, "Soprotivlenie" (Resistance). This is already second such case against Oleg, first time he was charged 3 years ago. Officers of the E-center have been using every possible means against local activists - blackmailing, torture, illegal searches and arrests, calls to workplaces and universities.

Two new shortfilms with subtitles in English, dedicated to Belarusian anarchists political prisoners have been released on Belarusian series "Chronicles of the times of courts", one is dedicated to Ihar Alinevich, and another to Mikalaj Dziadok.   Ihar was kidnapped in Moscow by plain-clothes Belarusian officials in Moscow 28th of November 2010, and only several days later it was revealed that he was in remand prison of Belarusian KGB in Minsk.    

Antifascists Alexey Sutuga and Alexey Olesinov have already been in the"Butyrka" prison in Moscow for more than half a year. Investigator Y. Egorov, who is conducting the investigation, is expected to modify the criminal case into a more serious one. The current criminal case was instituted in April 2012 following section 213 part 2 of the Russian Criminal Code (hooliganism motivated by political enmity, performed by an organised group). Now it will be modified following section 30 part 2 and section 105 (these two sections together are called "murderous

On wednesday 21st of November a demonstration against extradiction court of author Petr Silaev from Spain to Russia will be organised in Helsinki. Demonstraton is organised by Free Pit -network, free movement -network, Into publishing house, Free Pussy Riot Helsinki, PAND artists for peace and a number of other groups.

After two weeks ago the case against Nizhny Novgorod antifascists (the Antifa-RASH case) was sent back to prosecutor's office "to remove doubts, irregularities and obstacles" by a court, which is not likely to hear that case again, the case against Moscow-based antifascist Igor Kharchenko may set a precedent. The case, which is being heard by Moscow's Zamoskvoretsky district court, includes charges under Article 282, Part 2 of the Russian Criminal Code (participation in extremist community). 

Main investigations directorate of the Investigations Committee of the Russian Federation has announced that Alexandra Dukhanina, 19, under house arrest until March 6, 2013, was been issued with definitive charges over her alleged participation in May 6 clashes during a rally in Moscow's Bolotnaya square. Dukhanina is suspected of using force against police officers who were guarding public order during the event, Investigations Committee said.

On the evening of November 8, Moscow's Tagansky court ordered that antifascist Alen Volikov be taken into custody. Volikov was detained on suspicion of involvement in the brawl at Moscow's Vozdukh club in December 2011, and of beating up a nationalist. 

At about 10.30 p.m. on November 6, antifascist Alen Volikov, 23, and his girlfriend were walking out of a shop in Moscow when police operatives, who drove up in three cars, ran over to them. According to the woman, they presented criminal police IDs and explained the detention by the fact that Volikov is on a federal wanted list.  

18th of October, lenta.ru news service transmitted that judge refused to sentence defendants of the so called "Antifa-RASH" case in Nizhni Novgorod. Judge Olga Koloverova demanded police to reinvestigate the case, in order to exclude contradictions, which are currently obvious.