Welcome to our latest news compilation on imprisoned anarchists, featuring the rescue of Denis Kozak, the release of Lev Skoryakin, the new sentence for Azat Mifthakov, the ongoing case of Yuri Mikheev and the significant case of the Chita anarchists.
We have not compiled a report since December 2023, due to problems that are explained in our interview by Freedom. So this time we are making a quick recap on most important events concerning anarchist and anti-fascist political prisoners during last 8 months.
Denis Kozak has left to Europe. He was arrested in Kazakhstan at Russia's request
Russian anarchist Denis Kozak has been safe since 27th of March. Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights with the support of the UNHCR managed to secure Denis's release and arrange for the activist's departure to EU.
Recall that Denis was prosecuted for "justification of terrorism" due to commenting about Mikhail Zhlobitsky, anarchist who bombed FSB offices in Arkhangelsk in 2018, in social media VKontakte. In June 2022. Denis left Russia, but on February 9, 2023 he was detained in Almaty at the request of the Russian Federation. Later a Kazakhstan court extended his arrest for 12 months for violating the rules of stay in the country. In January 2024, Kazakhstan denied Kozak refugee status.
Denis Kozak was involved in the administration of telegram channels Anarcho News, Russian Syndicalism, REVANCHE and has done a lot to support other anarchist political prisoners.
Lev Skoryakin was released in the courtroom
with Ivan Astashin of the Solidarity Zone
15th of December last year, The Gagarinsky District Court of Moscow sentenced anarchist and activist of the "Left Bloc" Lev Skoryakin to a fine of 500,000 rubles but released him from payment due to the time he spent in pre-trial detention. Lev was released in the courtroom. The prosecutor had requested a 5-year prison sentence for the activist, but Skoryakin pleaded guilty despite not participating in the action and refused to provide further explanations, closing arguments, or a final statement.
The activist's lawyer, Evgenia Grigorieva, asked the court to impose a non-custodial sentence.
In December 2021, Skoryakin and Ruslan Abasov, the second defendant in the case, were detained and arrested on suspicion of involvement in hanging a banner with the inscription "Happy Chekist Day" and setting off a flare opposite the FSB building in Moscow. They were later released from pre-trial detention with restrictions on certain actions, and the activists emigrated. In November 2023, Lev Skoryakin was abducted in Bishkek of Kyrgyzstan and forcibly brought to Russia, where he was subjected to torture.
At the court session, the prosecutor read the interrogation protocol of the prosecution's witness, Umar Balurov, who was a minor at the time of the events. Balurov testified against Skoryakin, claiming that he distributed flares to the activists. As a result, Balurov's status changed from defendant to witness. Ruslan Abasov and the activists' defense deny Skoryakin's involvement in the action.
26th of March Skoryakin managed to migrate to EU.
Write to Russian prisoners from abroad
New payment service https://prisonmail.online/ makes it handy to write to Russian political prisoners from abroad. You may pay the fee with a non-Russian credit card, and also follow the delivery status of your letter.
The service does not cover all the prisoners, but you may always check if the service covers the prisoner you would like to write to.
Note: you need to write in Russian. Use DeepL or Google Translator for that.
Azat Miftakhov sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment
his new court via video only
Azat, a political prisoner and former graduate student at Moscow State University, was detained on September 4, 2023, immediately upon his release from a previous prison sentence of five years in Omutninsk, Kirov Region. Shortly before his release, he was added to Rosfinmonitoring's list of extremists and terrorists. The new charges of "justifying terrorism" are based on alleged comments he made about anarchist Mikhail Zhlobitsky, who bombed FSB offices in Arkhangelsk in 2018 during a TV show viewing with other inmates.
On March 27, a secret witness testified, claiming that Azat spoke against Russia's invasion of Ukraine and referenced Zhlobitsky's terrorist act. Azat and his defense dismissed the witness's testimony as false. During his own testimony, Azat denied making any statements justifying Zhlobitsky's actions.
On March 28, closing arguments began, with the prosecutor requesting a 3-year prison sentence. On the same day, Azat Miftakhov was sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment, with 2 years and 6 months to be served in (high-security) prison and the remaining time in a strict regime colony.
You may write to Azat do address
Miftakhov Azat Fanisovich, 1993 g.r.
FKU SIZO-4 GUFSIN Rossii po Sverdlovskoy oblasti,
ul. Urickogo d. 16B, g. Kamyshlov, Sverdlovskaya oblast
624860 Russia
Note that all letters should be written in Russian – you may use Google Translator or DeepL. From countries which have halted mail services with Russia, you may send an e-mail via ABC-Moscow: abc-msk@riseup.net.
The case of anti-fascist Yuri Mikheev
10 November 2023 19 years old Yuri Mikheev was arrested along with Matvey Melnikov at a military base in the Moscow region. The FSB accused them of planning to set fire to military equipment, including a 40V6 mobile tower, that is part of the S-300 missile system.
Yuri Mikheev, an anti-fascist who opposes Russian aggression against Ukraine, is now facing criminal charges for preparing to commit sabotage and has been placed in pre-trial detention, facing up to 10 years in prison. His arrest, along with the Melnikov brothers, is suspected by "Solidarity Zone" to be a provocation by security services.
On July 8, the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow extended the detention of Yuri Mikheev and the Melnikov brothers for another three months. Mikheev and Matvey were initially arrested on November 11, with Timofey Melnikov detained later on November 22. All three are charged with preparing for "sabotage" and could face up to 10 years in prison. Reports indicate that at least two of the defendants were tortured to extract confessions.
"Solidarity Zone" is raising funds for Yuri Mikheev's legal defense, but they still need more than 1900 euros to cover legal costs for the next months.
PayPal: solidarity_zone@riseup.net (sign as "for Mikheev")
Cryptocurrency (write solidarity_zone@riseup.net, if transferring):
Monero: 4B1tm6boA5ST6hLdfnPRG2Np9XMHCTiyhE6QaFo46QXp6tZ7Y6nJjE43xBBTwHM84bWwexR8nS4KH36JHujjc1kC8j2Mx5e
Bitcoin: bc1qn404lrshp3q9gd7852d7w85sa09aq0ch28s3v4
USDT (TRC20): TRcCUHKSMY7iLJPvbDxLc6ZnvAud72jTgj
Mikheev is supported by Solidarity Zone, and their telegram channel has also occasional updates about his case in English. https://t.me/solidarity_zone
Mikheev Yuri Vasilevich 03.11.2005 g.r.
Melnikov Matvey Konstantinovich 3.8.2004 g.r.
Melnikov Timofey Konstantinovich 3.8.2004 g.r.
SIZO-7 ul. Verhnie Polya d. 57
109382 Moscow Russia
Note that all letters should be written in Russian – you may use Google Translator or DeepL. From countries which have halted mail services with Russia, you may send an e-mail via ABC-Moscow: abc-msk@riseup.net.
Chita anarchists Alexander Snezhkov and Lyubov Lizunova were sentenced to real sentences
The 1st District Military Court in Chita sentenced Alexander Snezhkov to 6 years and Lyubov Lizunova to 3.5 years in prison. The third defendant, Vladislav Vishnevsky, received 1.5 years of forced labor. All three were convicted of "incitement to extremism and terrorism", with Snezhkov and Vishnevsky also found guilty of vandalism for graffiti that read "Death to the regime." Lizunova turned 18 in prison on 13th of July.
Snezhkov and Lizunova were detained in 2022 for allegedly creating anti-war graffiti and managing protest-related Telegram channels. Initially under travel restrictions, both were later placed in detention.
YouTube has a short documentary about them, you may autotranslate subtitles in English in the settings and you get a bearable translation:
You may write Alexander and Lyubov to addresses
Aleksandr Evgenevich Snezhkov, born 2003, SIZO-1, Ingodinskaya ul. d.1 , Zabaykalski kray 672039 Russia
Address for letters: Lyubov Vitaljevna Lizunova, born 2006, SIZO-1, Ingodinskaya ul. d.1 , Zabaykalski kray 672039 Russia.
Note that all letters should be written in Russian – you may use Google Translator or DeepL. From countries which have halted mail services with Russia, you may send an e-mail via ABC-Moscow: abc-msk@riseup.net.
Keep up supporting prisoners in Russia
We support anarchist, anti-authoritarian and anti-war prisoners, but also former prisoners in need of rehabilitation. We try to focus also on "unpopular" prisoners. We may not report on all of the cases we are working with, because sometimes relatives are against publicity, or due to other reasons.
You can find the contact addresses of all prisoners in Russia supported by us here.
and instructions how to donate here.. If you want to make a donation to a particular prisoner or case, please contact us beforehand to make sure that the supporters of the prisoner or case are currently gathering donations.
Anarchist Black Cross Moscow
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