You may have noticed recently that some of our usually reliable prisoners listings have been a little out of date. This is due to a current shortage in our group numbers and increasing commitments to other projects. You can help by sending any updates/contributions to the listings that you come across. Thanks in advance. In solidarity. Brighton ABC.

PS: Check out Prisonersolidarity.com, the now Philly ABC-run anarchist and class struggle prisoners listing wiki resource.

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 Europe       Rest of the World

UK and IRELAND

Toby Shone is free! [Correct as of: 12/11/24]

Toby Shone is an anarchist who was imprisoned in Wandsworth, Bristol and G4S Prison Parc for nearly two years accused of being the administrator of counter-information project 325.nostate.net. After the political prosecution failed and the cops had to drop the case 5 days before trial in October 2021, Toby received a sentence of 3 years 9 months for possession of psychedelic medicines. He was released on 28 December 2022 under heavy restrictions (license conditions), oversight by a multi-agency team (MAPPA) including the National Security Division (counter-terror) and was forced to live in a filthy bail hostel in Gloucester for 9 months. He had just moved back into a flat in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire 9 days ago.

On the morning of September 19, 2023, he was driving to an appointment with his probation officer when he was pulled over and arrested by an armed police unit in-between the Forest of Dean and Gloucester. He was taken to HMP Bristol after being accused of being in possession of an [unauthorised] phone and attending a dinner and prisoner letter writing night at BASE anarchist social centre in Bristol in August.

He has since been moved 265 kilometres from his home in Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire and nearly 300 kilometres from support in Bristol to HMP Garth in Leyland, a high security prison near Manchester. Despite being in the resettlement part of his sentence, a vengeful probation and counter-terror team are attempting to isolate Toby from his perceived support base and loved ones in the south of the country and deliberately place him at risk of harm in a notoriously violent Category B prison for those serving sentences of 10 years or more. Probation has demanded Toby serve the rest of his sentence which is just short of 13 months, due for release on 11 November 2024.

If anyone in the north of the country would like to visit Toby, please contact his soli group at [email protected]

Joe Outlaw, A1236AY, HMP Long Lartin, South Littleton, Worcestershire, WR11 8TZ. [Correct as of: 20/07/24]

Joe is serving a sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP), imposed in 2011 for robbery. The IPP is a draconian indeterminate sentence with a short custodial minimum period followed by indefinite detention unless the Parole Board directs that someone is safe to be released. Many IPPs face the prospect of never being released, or of getting out only to be recalled for the smallest of misdemeanours.

On April 12, 2023, prisoner Joe Outlaw staged a one-man protest on the roof of Strangeways prison in Manchester. In retribution for his protest, Joe was moved to high security Frankland prison in Durham. On June 21st, Joe renewed his protest on the roof of Frankland. He was then put in segregation and has now been moved to Belmarsh prison, from where he wrote:
"I'm now being kept in total isolation in a special unit that seems to have been opened just for me so I'm totally alone here. All they are doing is trying to silence my activism by suppressing me. My daily regime is totally oppressive; the only footwear I'm allowed to wear is flip flops, I'm double handcuffed every time I leave my cell, which is only for a brief exercise period in a small yard where I'm watched and observed by at least four screws and a guard dog. I remain handcuffed whilst in the exercise yard. They've also stopped all my visits which I intend to legally challenge."

Billy Ross, A0048AZ, HMP Eastwood Park, Falfield, Wotton-under-Edge, GL12 8DB, UK. [Correct as of: 16/08/22]

Billy is a Welsh trans and queer prisoner in HMP Eastwood Park, he loves: fashion; animals; fairies and paganism. If you get in touch, please be clear about whether you will be writing regularly/ if its a one off card/ letter.

John Paul Wootton H5573, Magilligan Gaol, Point Rd, Magilligan, Co. Derry, North Ireland, BT49 0LR, UK. [Correct as of: 16/08/22]

John Paul Wootton is a vegan anarchist prisoner and IWW/IWOC member, wrongfully convicted of the murder of a police officer in the "Craigavon 2" case, after a trial before a "Diplock" court, a secret military court with no jury. The case has been supported as a miscarriage of justice by high profile campaigners, legal experts & human rights activists. The prosecution used discredited witnesses, inconclusive forensics, and tampered evidence to secure a conviction that does not stand up to scrutiny. Security services destroyed evidence, intimidated witnesses and defence lawyers.

Describing the case in his own words, he says:

"My name is John Paul Wootton and I am now twenty years of age and I have been imprisoned in Maghaberry prison for the last three years, that is, from I was 17 years of age.

On the 10th of March 2009, while still a teenager, I was arrested and interrogated for thirteen days in relation to the fatal shooting of Constable Steven Carroll in Craigavon on the 9th of March 2009. From the outset of this period of interrogation I made it clear that I neither knew nor had any part in this incident and indeed the duration of my interrogation was only ended when my legal representative took out a legal injunction.

On the 30th of March 2012, after a trial before a Diplock court, I was convicted and sentenced to a life sentence for the killing of Constable Carroll on the basis of a tracking device that had been fitted to my car at some point and which allegedly placed me at the scene of the shooting. However, the device in question, which had been placed there by members of MI5, went missing for a period of time and when it was finally recovered portions of the data allegedly recorded on the device were missing! These ‘gaps’ were supposedly filled by an MI5 operative who gave his evidence at the trial anonymously from behind a screen and his explanation for the data going missing was that, ‘he had left it on his desk and someone had moved and then replaced it without his knowledge’!

Additional to the missing data, the examination of my car, during the period of the missing data, also produced a brown coat that had particles of gun powder residue on it. These particles did not match the rifle or ammunition recovered by the PSNI that was claimed by the prosecution to have been the weapon that fired the fatal shot which killed Constable Carroll. This coat, which was a central piece of evidence in the case, not only did not belong to me but it had no physical connection to me, that is, no traces of my DNA, fibres or fingerprints were found on the coat. In short, there was no physical evidence presented to the trial that linked me to this shooting rather a process of speculation and hypothesis that turned the legal principle of innocence until proven guilty on its head was applied.

During the trial my legal team attempted to tease out the anomalies of this case to demonstrate the complete lack of evidence against me, however, at each attempt they were met with the barrier of ‘Public Interest Immunity Orders’ being sought and granted to the prosecution. As a result of this crucial lines of inquiry about the movements of my car and the particles on the coat were denied to my defence.

As a consequence of all of the above I have instructed my legal team to appeal the conviction against me on the grounds that I did not receive a fair trial for the following reasons;

1. I was refused the right to a trial by jury and instead I was tried by a single judge in a Diplock court,
2. This single judge in the absence of any physical evidence against me resorted to negative inference and opinion,
3. Evidence which may have assisted my defence or undermined the case against me was kept hidden from my legal team through the use of Public Interest Immunity Orders,
4. Several witnesses were granted anonymity thereby preventing the defence from properly cross examining them.

I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this short description of what has happened to me and I would ask you to do all that you can to highlight this miscarriage of justice in the hope that I will get the chance of a fair trial at my appeal."

https://justiceforthecraigavontwo.wordpress.com/

Samantha Faulder, A1209CF, HMP Eastwood Park, Falfield, Wooton-Under-Edge, Gloucs, GL12 8DB. [Correct as of: 20/08/22]
Sam Faulder is an anarchist prisoner currently serving a life sentence in England. Sam is a miscarriage of justice who has spent over fourteen years in the prison system for a murder she did not commit. She has recently been working on her appeal with Cardiff University's Innocence Project.

She has been an anti-authoritarian her whole life and was relentlessly targeted by police because of her lifestyle choices. After serving nearly two years on remand, Sam’s trial was a disaster. Police corruption impacted her trial and her solicitor firm withdrew from her case three weeks before it began. Her need to appeal coincided with cuts to legal-aid and she has been trapped in the prison system ever since. She is now working with Cardiff University’s Innocence Project on her appeal. Learn more about her case and appeal here: http://freedomforsam.org/about/

About Sam’s health: After ten years experiencing every abuse imaginable, Sam was sadly diagnosed with cancer in 2016. She has still not had treatment. She has experienced intense medical neglect while being imprisoned in a for-profit prison, HMP Peterborough, run by Sodexo. Read the full story of her cancer situation here: http://freedomforsam.org/sams-cancer-timeline/

Support Sam needs:

Please send letters and cards with solidarity messages
http://freedomforsam.org/what-you-can-do/
Please donate to her support fund: http://freedomforsam.org/donate/
Organise actions and dedicate them to Sam, this will mean the world to her!
Pay attention to the website for action alerts about her treatment
Share her story online

For more info please email: bristol_abc[at]riseup.net

Kevan Thakrar, A4907AE, HMP Manchester, 1 Southall Street, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, M60 9AH, UK. [Correct as of: 20/02/24]
Kevan Thakrar was wrongly convicted of murder and attempted murder in 2008 using multiple hearsay evidence under 'joint enterprise', the legal rule which means that any member of a group can be convicted of a crime, regardless of whether they played any role in it. Kevan wasn't present when the murder took place, but he was sentenced to life with a minimum of 35 years in jail. He was aged just 20.
Kevan has been consistently subjected to vengeful abuse and violence from prison guards for speaking out about his and other prisoners treatment. In March 2010 Kevan was charged with assaulting three prison officers in HMP Frankland, but was subsequently found not guilty of the assault in a landmark legal acquittal, where the finger of blame was instead pointed directly back at the Prison Service, whose regime of racism and violence was clearly exposed throughout the four-week trial.
Despite being found not guilty Kevan has been held ever since in solitary confinement in the notorious Close Supervision Centres, the UK equivalent to the F.I.E.S. regime in Spain, and the Supermax in the US. The ‘Prisons within the Prisons’ exist to facilitate the suppression, mental breakdown and murder of those who rebel within the prison system, those who ask too many questions, complain too many times, lash out in frustration, or are irreducible. Despite all this, Kevan continues to speak out about the injustices suffered there by himself and other prisoners around him.

For more information about his case:
https://justiceforkevan.org/
www.facebook.com/JusticeForKev

or see our page of writings about and by Kevan

BELARUS

NB: Before sending letters or cards, check with your local post if they send mail to Belarus – because of the sanctions, some countries stopped cooperating with Belarusian post offices. Also, political prisoners in Belarus are reporting non-delivery and destruction of mail coming from comrades even inside the country. You can try to send the letters anyway, but take pictures of them and send them to [email protected]. ABC-Belarus will pass them to relatives or lawyers. Alternatively, use an online form on their website https://abc-belarus.org/?page_id=8682&lang=en

Aleksandr Zaitsev [Zaitsev Aleksandr Vladimirovich]
IK-15, 212013, Mogilev, p/o Veino, Slavgorod shosse 183, Belarus. [Correct as of: 16/08/22]

Alexander Zaitsev was detained after attempting to set fire to Chairman of the Supreme Court’s summerhouse (Attempted act of terrorism by a group of persons) on 22 August 2021. According to our information his accomplice was a provocateur Akulich Dmitry, whom Zaitzev had met while serving an administrative arrest. On 15 April 2022 Aleksander was sentenced to 10 years in prison. [Link]

Kristina Cherenkova [Cherenkova Kristina Aleksandrovna], SIZO-3, ul. Knizhnaya 1A, Gomel, 246003, Belarus. [Correct as of: 16/08/22]

Kristina is a well-known and outspoken anti-fascist activist from Mozyr. Detained on March 23, 2022, she is accused of inciting social hatred against police officers (Art. 130.1 of the Criminal Code) by publishing offensive comments on Instagram and is facing up to 5 years in jail because of her activism. [Link]

Kristina’s Instagram support page is: https://instagram.com/free.kitaanalena

Anti-Lukashenko Protests

Denis Boltut [Boltut Denis Viktorovich], Penal colony No. 2. vulica Sikorskaha 1,213800, Babrujsk, Belarus. [Correct as of: 06/11/21]

Denis Boltut is an antifascist and fan of the MTZ-RIPO football club. He was detained after the protests on September 23 against Lukashenko’s inauguration. Denis was charged with 342 part 1 (organisation and preparation of actions grossly violating public order, or active participation in them).
On July 2, 2021, he was sentenced to six years in prison.

Tamaz Pipiya [Pipiya Tamaz Vazhevich], Penal colony No. 1. 211440, Navapolack, vulica Technichnaya 8, Belarus. [Correct as of: 06/11/21]

Timur Pipiya is an antifascist from Minsk and a fan of the football club "MTZ-RIPO". He was detained on September 25 under suspicion of organising mass riots on September 23 during Lukashenko’s inauguration. He was charged under part 1 of article 342 (organisation and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order or active participation in them). He is being held in the pre-trial detention center of Zhodzina.
On July 2, 2021, he was sentenced to five years in prison.

UPDATE: In mid-October it became publicly known that Tamaz Pipija had been placed into a punitive isolation cell. The term of isolation and the formal reason are not known. The administrators of the penal institution had threatened Tamaz to transfer him to a prison regime upon the end of punitive isolation. During his imprisonment, Tamaz significantly lost weight. [19/11/23]

Vitaliy Shishlov [Shishlov Vitaly Vyacheslavovich], Penal colony No. 3, 211322, Viciebsk region, Vićba, Belarus.. [Correct as of: 06/12/20]

Vitaliy Shishlov is an antifascist and fan of "MTZ-RIPO" football club. He was detained on September 23 during protests against Lukashenko’s inauguration. Vitaly was charged under Art. 364 (violence or threat of violence against an officer of internal affairs) and Art. 293.1 (organisation of mass riots).
On July 2, 2021, he was sentenced to six years in prison.

Andrei Chepyuk [Chepyuk Andrei], SIZO-1, 2 Volodarskogo St., Minsk, 220030, Belarus. [Correct as of: 06/11/21]

Andrei Chepyuk is an anarchist from Minsk, volunteer of the Human Rights Center "Vesna". He was detained in Minsk on August 2 by GUBOP. On October 9 Andrey was charged under part 2 of article 293 of the Criminal code – "participation in mass riots". He remains in pre-trial detention centre-1 in Minsk.

Ivan Krasovsky
Ivan Krasovsky is a Belarusian anarchist who was detained on September 24 in Minsk. A criminal case under article 293.2 was brought against Ivan – participation in mass riots (from three to eight years). He is now in pre-trial detention center № 1 in Minsk.
Ivan had initially been detained on August 12 when, after being severely beaten by GUBOPIK and OMON officers, he ended up in hospital. Due to injuries of varying severity, he had to use the wheelchair for two weeks.
On February 19, 2021, he was sentenced to 3 years of restriction of freedom with a referral, left the country.

'Pramen' Case

Aleksandr Belov [Belov Aleksandr Andreevich]
IK-22, Brestski rajon, Ivatsevichy, 225295, stantsiya Domanovo, a/ya 20, Belarus. [Correct as of: 16/08/22]
Evgeny Rubashko [Rubashko Evgeny Alexandrovich]
IK-2, ul. Sikorskogo 1, 213800, Bobruisk, Belarus.
Artem D. Solovy [Solovey Artem Dmitrievich]
IK-17, Shklov, 213004, ul. 1-ya Zavodskaya, 8, Belarus.
Artem S. Solovy [Solovey Artem Sergeevich]
IK-15, Slavgorodskoe shosse 183, Veino, Mogilev, 213105, Belarus.

On April 22, 2022 the verdict was pronounced in the so-called 'Pramen case'. Aleksandr Belov, Evgeny Rubashko and Artem D. Solovy were tried on charges of organisation of actions that disrupted public order during post-election protests in Belarus (Article 342.1) and participation in an extremist organisation (Article 361-1.1) and sentenced to 5 years in prison, whilst Artem S. Solovy was sentenced to 4.5 years.
Aleksandr (nicknamed Zhenya) and Evgeny were arrested on July 29, 2021 and charged with participation in the 2020 protests. Two other activists, who are both called Artem Solovy Artsiom Salavei (though unrelated) were detained a week later. While the investigation was going on, the anarchist media collective Pramen and its website and social networks were recognised as an extremist formation. The four were accused of promoting extremist activities on behalf of the collective.
All four had already been detained for various protests and spent short periods under arrest during 2020-21.

LINK to a pre-trail interview with Zhenya Rubashko

Belarus Anarchist Partisans

Dzmitry Dubovski, [Dubovsky Dmitry Nikolaevich], IK-3, Vitebskaya oblast, Vitebskiy rayon, Vitba, 211300, Belarus. [Correct as of: 16/08/22]
Ihar Alinevich [Igor Vladimirovich Olinevich], IK-20, Gomelskaya oblast, Mozyrski rayon, 247755, Mikhalkovsky s/s, 70, Belarus. [Correct as of:16/08/22]
Sergey Romanov [Romanov Sergei Alexandrovich], IK-11, Volkovysky rayon, Grodnenskaya oblast, 231900, Volkovysk, ulica Rokossovsky, 118, Belarus. [Correct as of: 16/08/22]
Dzmitry Rezanovich [Rezanovich Dmitry Grigorevich],
IK-22, Brestkaya oblast, Ivacevichy, 225295, stanciya Domanovo, a/ya 20, Belarus. [Correct as of: 16/08/22]

Belarus anarchists Dzmitry Dubovski, Sergey Romanov, Ihar Alinevich and Dzmitry Rezanovich were arrested on the night between 28 and 29 October 2020 in Belarus close to Ukrainian border by Belarusian border guards. Allegedly charged with terrorism and illegal possession of firearm. According to prosecutors office the four comrades organised several arson attacks in Soligorsk and Mozir against state institutions. Right now they are all being held in KGB Prison in Minsk.
[see: https://abc-belarus.org/?p=13484&lang=en]

"Anarchist Criminal Organisation" Case

Akihiro Khanada-Gaevsky and Alexander Frantskevich were detained on August 12, 2020 and charged with participating in mass riots. Maria Rabkova and Andrei Chepiuk were detained later and over time accused of creating and participating an anarchist criminal organisation. In March 2021, seven more people were detained in Brest and accused of being a chapter of this organisation. In June 2021, several people were also detained as suspects in this case in Grodno, but were released after 10 days. Maria Rabkova doesn’t want to be associated with anarchism.

Khanada-Gaevsky Akikhiro Svyatoslavovich
Chepiuk Andrey Sergeyevich
Frantskevich Aleksandr Vladimirovich
Kozlyanko Aleksandr Aleksandrovich
Marach Andrey Igorevich
Golovko Aleksey Igorevich
Dranets Nikita Vadimovich
Shpetny Pavel Aleksandrovich
Address:
ul. Volodarskogo, 2, SIZO-1
220030 Minsk
Belarus. [Correct as of: 16/08/22]

Mikalai Dziadok, [Dedok Nikolay Aleksandrovich], Turma-1, ul. Kirova 1, Grodno, 230023, Belarus. [Correct as of: 16/08/22]

Anarchist and blogger Mikalai Dziadok was detained late in the evening of November 11, 2020. After his arrest Dziadok was tortured for several hours and forced to give passwords to the encrypted equipment.
The investigation believes that Dziadok repeatedly called for illegal actions on his Internet pages, including participation in protests and resistance to the cops. Dziadok himself was forced to go underground even before the revolution because of the threat of political persecution. Mikola’s trial started on June 29, 2021
[Belarus ABC have stated that, whilst they have condemned certain positions of Dedok on feminism and antiracism published in his texts, they consider it important to continue critically support him.]

Mikita Yemelyanau, [Yemelyanov Nikita Vladimirovich], IK-11, ul. Rokossovskogo 118, Volkovyssk, Volkovysski r-n, Grodnenskaya obl., 231900, Belarus. [Correct as of: 16/08/22]

Anarchist from Belarus, sentenced to 4 years for setting fire to Minsk pretrial detention centre and attacking a court with paint bulbs in solidarity with another anarchist, who was being kept there under arrest at that time.

Igor Banzer [released]
Igor Banzer is an antifascist, musician and anarchist from Grodno. He was detained on October 20 in Grodno. He was charged under part 1 of article 339 (hooliganism) for performance in front of a cop car. On March 19, 2021 sentenced to 1.5 years of custodial restraint, which he began on June 17, 2021 in an open-type correctional facility. [last updated 20/12/21]

Mikita Yemelyanau (Yemelyanov Nikita Vladimirovich), ul. Krupskoy 99A, ST-4, 212011 Mogilev, Belarus. [Correct as of: 06/12/20]

An anarchist from Minsk, he was detained on October 19, 2019together with Ivan Komar on suspicion of attempted arson at a Minsk pretrial detention centre (article 295-3 "Illegal actions with combustible substances" and article 344 "Intentional destruction or damage of historical and cultural values") in solidarity with Dzmitry Palijenka, who was being held there under arrest at that time. Later the charges were also brought for another unsuccessful attack on the same pretrial detention centre (article 295-3 "Illegal actions with combustible substances" and article 344 "Intentional destruction or damage to historical and cultural property"), as well as for throwing paint at the Minsk city court in solidarity with Dzmitry Palijenka (article 341 "Desecration of buildings and destruction of property").
On February 12, 2020 Mikita Yemelyanau and Ivan Komar were found guilty and sentenced to 7 years of prison each.
On March 27, 2020, the appellate court commuted the sentence of Mikita Yemelyanau to 4 years, that of Ivan Komar – to 3.5 years of imprisonment.
Ivan Komar bears false witness against Yemelyanau, so ABC groups are not supporting him.

[link]

See also: abc-belarus.org/ for up-to-date news on Belarus prisoners. Also, you can send on-line letters to Belarusian prisoners via the website.

FRANCE

Claudio Lavazza is free after nearly 28 years in French and Spainish prisons!
[Correct as of: 08/09/24]

In 1996 three anarchists and a fourth militant were arrested during a bank robbery in Malaga (Spain). In the shootout that followed the robbery, two guards were fatally wounded. Claudio Lavazza was sentenced to 49 years, while the other three comrades were sentenced two to 48 years and one to 3 years. Furthermore, in 1999, the Malaga court of appeal sentenced Claudio and two other comrades (also convicted of the robbery) to 11 years each for a raid on the Italian consulate, also in Malaga, in December 1996. On that occasion, the Italian vice-consul was held up by three masked and armed people who sent a message of solidarity with the anarchists arrested in Italy for Operation 'Pontelungo' (better known as the Marini trial, the huge trial brought by the repressive forces against dozens and dozens of anarchists during the 1990s in Italy), and then walked away stealing passports and money.
Claudio has other convictions pending in France and Italy due to his years of struggle and clandestinity in various countries: in the late 1970s he took part in the revolutionary struggle in Italy, participating in particular in Proletari Armati per il Comunismo (Armed Proletarians for Communism), and then came closer to anarchist ideas during his long absconding. In November 2019, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a robbery that took place in Saint-Nazaire, France, on July 4, 1986. In 2012 he published an autobiographical book entitled 'Pestifera la mia vita' (My Pestilential Life).
UPDATE: Having served almost 25 years in the Spanish state’s prisons, Claudio Lavazza has been extradited to France where he has an outstanding sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment (the procedure of accumulation of sentences is in progress, which will establish the actual period still to be served). With regard to the sentences [of several decades in prison] he accumulated in Italy during his time in the Proletari Armati per il Comunismo ("Armed Proletarians for Communism", PAC), this morning [May 12] the Court of Assizes of Milan declared the sentence time-barred! [15/05/21]

Ivan Alocco, Released on June 14, 2023

Ivan was arrested on June 11, 2022 in Paris and is accused of setting six vehicle of fire in Paris and Montreuil between January and June, often in solidarity with prisoners. The cops followed him for months, listened to his phone calls, installed a camera in the entrance of the building where he lived, intercepted his mail (especially the letters of anarchists/hes imprisoned) and looked at his bank account. The case will probably get connected with old counts of car arsons on 2017-2021.

GERMANY

Thomas Meyer Falk
After almost 27 years of imprisonment, Thomas was released from the high-security area of Freiburg prison on August 29, 2023 with just two hours notice! [Updated: 02/09/22]

In 1996, Thomas was sent down for eleven and a half years for bank robbery. Because of his strong beliefs, he's been subject to very harsh repression - kept in solitary, daily cell raids, suppression and censorship of mail, no access to education. In 2007, he was finally been moved out of solitary and was able to participate in education and other activities. He has applied for parole on a number of occasions since then but has always been turned down. At the end of June 2013, the District Court of Karlsruhe decided that Thomas was still a "danger" to the community and he is now being held in preventive detention.
Thomas is still refusing to collaborate with any psychiatric reviewers and remains banged up "preventively for security reasons" in the notorious hellhole of Freiburg.

For more info email: [email protected]
or see https://freedomforthomas.wordpress.com/thomas-meyer-falk/

Andreas Krebs, JVA Tegel, Seidelstr. 39, 13507 Berlin, Germany. [Correct as of: 21/02/24]

Andreas is a former rebel long-term prisoner and anarchist, who was 16 years behind bars until October 2014. Now he is back in the clutches of justice. In autumn 2014, after his release, he met his current wife Jutta. Both decided to spend a quiet retirement in the south of Italy. At the end of December 2016 there was a dispute with his former employer, who attacked Andreas and strangled him. Andreas stabbed him in self-defence with a penknife. Sadly, the victim died in the hospital three days later under mysterious circumstances, although it was said shortly after the act that he would survive. In April 2019 he was sentenced in Italy to 24 years for intended murder. In addition, Andreas has recently been diagnosed with kidney cancer. His health is deteriorating and we fear for his life. Actually, he should undergo surgery months ago, but the Italian authorities refuse to transfer him to a hospital. He has now been extradited to Germany.

Rainer Loehnert, Südlicher Rundweg 20a, Haus F1, Station 1, 47551 Bedburg Hau, Deutschland. [Correct as of: 16/08/22]

Rainer Loehnert is 55 years old and has been locked up for more than 31 years in various prisons and mental houses, of which he has long been in isolation and on "secured stations". He is currently held in the forensic psychiatry in Bedburg Hau (North Rhine-Westphalia).
Rainer was admitted to a closed psychiatry by means of a "determined incapacity and negative danger prognosis according to section 63 of the Criminal Code" due to a personal injury that he suffered 32 years ago. This resulted in an unofficial, seemingly endless "preventive detention" and long-term overdose of psychotropic drugs. During his entire detention, Rainer's anti-fascist and anti-authoritarian attitudes, actions and acts of resistance were repeatedly pathologized as "morbid" and "delusional".
He opposed his unbroken will to defend himself against this prison System to the humiliation and terror of nurses, doctors, therapists, assessors, judges, etc. and other prisoners (neo-Nazis). The fights have cost him a lot of strength and nerves. In the three decades Rainer went on hunger strikes, attempted several escape attempts, and resisted various police units as well as provocations of the staff and fellow neo-Nazi prisoners.
He participated in the hunger strike in solidarity with the struggling Prisoners in Greece in July 2014, and has repeatedly denied medication and urine checks, what is often punished with solitary confinement or fixation, forced medication.
Rainer writes and reads very much, and expressing solidarity with various struggling (ex-)prisoners, such as Marco Camenisch and Gabriel Pombo da Silva. He keeps or seeks contact, among others, with some anti-prison projects and individuals and informs himself about current (anti-domination) fights.
He tries get in touch with (fighting) people from inside and outside of prison around the world. Rainer speculates about current (anarchist) struggles, especially in Europe, as well as anarchist newspaper projects, but also "classics" of anarchist theories and practices.

GREECE

Fotis Tziotzis [Φωτης Τζιωτης], Dikastiki Fylaki Larissas, TK 41110, Larissa, Greece. [Correct as of: 21/02/24]

Fotis was detained on 12 May 2015 and accused of armed robbery and attempted homicide of DIAS cops. A month after the arrests a snitch, also accused of the robbery, gave the comrade’s name and signed everything the cops told him to. The last pieces of the puzzle were filled in by well-wishing citizens and cops, who with their testimonies contributed once more to a vengeful arrest of a comrade.

Iasonas Rodopoulos [Ιάσονας Ροδοπουλος] Filakes Anilikon Avlona, TK 19011, Avlona, Attiki, Greece. [Correct as of: 21/02/24]
Fotis Daskalas [Φώτης Δασκαλάς] Dikastiki Fylaki Korydallou (Korydallos Detention Centre), TK 18122 Korydallos, Greece. [Correct as of: 21/02/24]

Comrades Fotis Daskalas and Iasonas Rodopoulos are in pre-trial detention in Korydallos and Avlonas juvenile prisons respectively, accused of attempted murder, arson, conspiracy, construction and possession of explosives and incendiary materials, based on the new criminal code. This persecution is taking revenge, on the occasion of an attack on the Piraeus traffic police on the night that the comrades were arrested, despite the lack of evidence to indicate our comrades.

Anarchist Action Organisation Prisoners

Georgia Voulgari, Thanos Hatziangelou (or Xatziagkelou) and Panagiotis Kalaitzis were arrested on February 8, 2022, in connection with an arson attack at the Foundation for National and Religious Reflection in the Ano Polis area of Thessaloniki and were later charged with membership of 'Anarchist Action Organisation' (Οργάνωση Αναρχική Δράση). Thanos has since taken responsibility for the incendiary attack, Georgia has asked for legal representation and Panagiotis died any involvement.
[source]

Thanos Hatziangelou [Θάνος Χατζηαγγέλλου]
Dikastiki Fylaki Korydallou, D. Pteryga, TK 18110, Korydallos, Athens, Greece. [Correct as of: 21/02/24]
Panagiotis Kalaitzis [Παναγιώτης Καλαϊτζής]
Released.
Georgia Voulgari [Γεωργία Βούλγαρη]
Released.

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UPDATE: On July 8, 2016, the Koridallos prison court – presided over by special judge Asimina Yfanti – convicted all members of the anarchist revolutiona

Conspiracy of the Cells of Fire Prisoners

Most of the CCF prisoners were involved in a series of new trials dealing with the 250 bombings and arsons between 2008 and 2011 alleged against the organisation (including attacks on the Golden Dawn�s offices, the Athens Administrative Court, and Koridallos prisons), as well as the sending of a series of 14 parcel bombs. All are also under investigation concerning the 'Phoenix' project and the 'Operation Ardire' case.

Following the trials, ten members of the evolutionary organisation Conspiracy of Cells of Fire (CCF) – Gerasimos Tsakalos, Christos Tsakalos, Giorgos Polydoros, Olga Ekonomidou, Theofilos Mavropoulos, Panayiotis Argyrou, Giorgos Nikolopoulos, Michalis Nikolopoulos, Damiano Bolano, and Haris Hatzimihelakis – were sentenced to 115 years in prison each.
Angeliki Spyropoulou was sentenced to 28 years in prison. Athena Tsakalou and Evi Statiri were found not guilty. Christos Polydoros was given 6 year suspended sentence. Christos Rodopoulos was sentenced to 75 years in prison. Christodoulos Xiros sentenced to 65 years in prison. Fabio Dusko sentenced to 8 years in prison. Four other defendants sentenced to 27-28 years in prison each. Four other defendants were acquitted of membership in the organisation but received a 6-year suspended sentence. Two other defendants were found guilty of misdemeanor offences and another two were found not guilty.

Christos Rodopoulos [Χριστος Ροδοπουλος], Sofronistiko Katastima Domokou, TK 35010 Domokos, Fthiotida, Greece. [Correct as of: 21/02/24]

Olga Ekonomidou (Oikonomidou) [Όλγα Οικονομίδου]
Dikastiki Fylaki Korydallou – Gynaikeies Fylakes, TK 18122, Korydallos, Athens, Greece. [Correct as of: 21/02/24]
Olga, Giorgos and Christos were arrested on March 14, 2011 and are currently awaiting trial in the 'Volos case' and for other Cells of Fire-related charges.
All currently awaiting trial on Cells of Fire-related charges, having been held in pre-trial detention for more than 3 years.

Konstantinos Giagtzoglou [Κωσταντινος Γιατζογλου], Dikastiki Fylaki Korydallou, Ediki Pteryga, T.K. 18110, Korydallos, Athens, Greece. [Correct as of: 21/02/24]
Anarchist comrade Konstantinos Giagtzoglou was arrested on October 28, 2017, while exiting a hideout rented by him under a false identity and while transferring guns and explosive materials. Ntinos is accused of being a member of the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire and for sending parcel bombs to various E.U. officials including the former prime minister of Greece, Loukas Papadimos. The cops' accusations are based on a mixed DNA sample and on the fact that Ntinos was visiting a former anarchist prisoner in Korydallos prison in early 2013. The comrade stated that both renting the flat and transferring the equipment were part of "revolutionary solidarity" and denies all other charges. Dinos was sentenced to a total of 11 years and 2 months’ prison without parole.

To keep up to date on the various CCF cases [in English], see:
https://actforfree.noblogs.org/

# NB: Prisoners held in the new 'special wings' and C Type prisons in Greece have severe restrictions place upon their communications. Phone calls are all monitored and mail is subjected to censorship and your letters may not reach the intended recipient.

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Revolutionary Struggle Prisoners & Others

On April 10, 2010, the Anti-terrorist Department of the Greek Police arrested six people in Athens :
Nikos Maziotis, Panagiota 'Pola' Roupa, Kostas Gournas, Vaggelis Stathopoulos, Sarandos Nikitopoulos, and Christoforos Kortesis. All were known for their long presence in the anarchist/anti-authoritarian movement. Two weeks later, Nikos Maziotis, Pola Roupa, and Kostas Gournas admitted to participating in the organiSation known as Revolutionary Struggle (Epanastatikos Agonas). Stathopoulos, Nikitopoulos, and Kortesis denied the charges and stated that they were being persecuted for their years of anarchist activity and their comradely political relationships with the others. Two others, Marie Beraha and Kostas Katsenos, were also charged and included in the trial.
UPDATE: On Friday, April 23, 2021, at the Loukareos Court in Athens, the verdict was pronounced against anarchists Vaggelis Stathopoulos (imprisoned) and Dimitris Hatzivassiliadis (in hiding since October 2019) and against the third defendant, D. M.
Vaggelis Stathopoulos was given 19 years without appeal; Dimitris Hatzivassiliadis: 16 years without appeal; and
D. M.: 10 years with appeal. [Updated: 28/04/21]
Dimitris Hatzivassiliadis was arrested on 09/08/21. [Updated: 28/08/21]

Nikos Maziotis [Nικος Μαζιωτης]
Dikastiki Filaki Domokou, A. Pteryga, T. K. 35010, Domokos, Fthiotidas, Greece. [Correct as of: 21/02/24]
Giorgos Petrakakos [Γιωργος Πετρακακος]
Dikastiki Filaki Korydallou, Special wing [Eidikí Pteriga], TK 18110, Korydallos, Athens, Greece. [Correct as of: 21/02/24]
Dimitris Hatzivassiliadis [Δημήτρης Χατζηβασιλειάδης]
Dikastiki Filaki Domokou, A. Pteryga, T. K. 35010, Domokos, Fthiotidas, Greece. [Correct as of: 21/02/24]

Pola (Panagiota) Roupa [Πόλα (Παναγιωτα) Ρούπα], released from prison on November 17, 2023.

On April 3, 2013 the judgment on the Revolutionary Struggle case was handed down:
Nikos Maziotis was sentenced to 86 years’ imprisonment in absentia; his sentence was merged into 50 years. Pola Roupa and Kostas Gournas were both sentenced to 87 years (Pola sentenced in absentia); each sentence was merged into 50 years and 6 months.
For all three of them, the maximum prison term is 25 years (which are typically served either as a full sentence or by day wages in prisons, or after the completion of 3/5 of the prison term, when a prisoner can be granted conditional release under specific conditions).

Following a second trial with regard to the attack with a car bomb containing 75kg of explosives against the Bank of Greece’s Supervision Directorate in central Athens on April 10th 2014; the shootout in Monastiraki on July 16, 2014 (when comrade Nikos Maziotis was injured and recaptured by police); and expropriations of bank branches, on March 3, 2016, Nikos Maziotis was sentenced to life in prison plus 129 years and a fine of €20,000; Pola Roupa, who is still at liberty, was again sentenced in absentia, this time to 11 years in prison on misdemeanor charges (but she will also stand trial on felony charges if she is arrested); Antonis Stamboulos was sentenced to 13 years in prison and Giorgos Petrakakos was sentenced to 36 years in prison plus a fine of 9,000 euros. [Updated: 06/04/16]

Kostantina Athanasopoulou [Κωσταντινα Αθανασοπουλου] Released.

Giannis Michailidis [Γιάννης Μιχαηλίδης], released from prison on June 14, 2023.

Arrested in Athens on January 29, 2020 during a repressive operation aimed at the arrest of Kostantina Athanasopoulou and Giannis Michailidis, who had been fugitives and wanted for some time. They were arrested in a stolen car and in possession of firearms.

Kostantina Athanasopoulou had been a fugitive since she was released on bail in 2019. Arrested in Athens on 5 January 2017, together with Pola Roupa, and accused of activities related to the revolutionary anarchist organisation Lotta Revolutionaria, she was sentenced in absentia in one of the trials against Revolutionary Struggle, again in 2019, at 35 years and 6 months.

Giannis Michailidis had escaped from the Tyrintha rural prison in June 2019. Arrested in February 2013 together with three other anarchists [see below], for the double armed robbery in Velventos (Kozani region), at the end of the trial he was sentenced to 16 years and 4 months in prison. In addition to this, he was serving a further sentence for a clash with police in Pefki (Athens area) in May 2011. During a check, two policemen and the anarchist Theofilos Mavropoulos, himself wounded, were shot and shot. he was arrested, while Giannis Michailidis managed to escape by stealing the police car. For these facts he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. [Updated: 26/11/20]
UPDATE: At their terror court trial on June 29, 2021, Kostantina Ahanasopoulou was sentenced to 2.5 years, Giannis Mixailidis to 26 years (20 years "merged") and Dimitra Valavani to 2.5 years.

Kostas Sakkas [Κωστας Σακκας], Dikastiki Filaki Korydallou – Andrikes Fylakes-A’ Pteriga, TK 18110, Korydallou, Athens, Greece. [Correct as of: 21/02/24]

Arrested on December 4, 2010 in Nea Smirni case (possession of weapons and explosives). In January 2014 released on bail and went on the run. In December 2014 was sentenced in absentia to 16 years. Was rearrested with Marios Seisidis in August 2016 and sentenced to 2 years and 9 months for using forged documents and car registration plates, car theft and disobedience to authorities. On June 12, 2019, Sakkas was arrested in Thessaloniki with Giannis Dimitrakis and Dimitra Syrianou, during expropriating a guarded money transport that was about to refill an ATM at the university hospital AHEPA.
Kostas Sakkas was sentenced to 7 years and 10 months. Their co-accused anarchist comrade Dimitra Syrianou was sentenced to two years in prison with a three-year suspension for simple complicity in robbery, and was released.

Spyros Christodoulou [Σπυρος Χριστοδουλου], Dikastiki Filaki Larissas, TK 41110, Larissa, Greece. [Correct as of: 21/02/24]

On May 29, 2015, during an anti-terrorist operation of the Greek police in the area of Nea Anchialos in Magnesia (in close distance to the city of Volos), Spyros Dravilas fell dead inside a safe house under unverified circumstances. The police operation against dubbed ‘Distomo robbers’ resulted not only in the death of Spyros Dravilas (an illegalist and ex-prisoner in struggle), but also in the arrest of Grigoris Tsironis (an anarchist comrade, very active over the past two decades, who was on the run since 2006) and Spyros Christodoulou (an illegalist and unruly ex-prisoner).

# NB: Prisoners held in the new 'special wings' and C Type prisons in Greece have severe restrictions place upon their communications. Phone calls are all monitored and mail is subjected to censorship and your letters may not reach the intended recipient.

ITALY

There's a steady stream of reports of extensive repression from Italy. Ecological anarchists, squatters and ALF activists are more and more active, but are also facing more arrests, raids and random fit-ups. https://en-contrainfo.espiv.net/ is a good source for the latest news from Italy in English.

Matteo Nascimben, C. C. di Trento, via Cesare Beccaria 13, Località Spini di Gardolo, 38121 Trento, Italia.

He has been sentenced to 14 months in relation to several actions (squatting of a City Hall, illegal demostrations and more).
[link]

Pierloreto Fallanca, C. C. “Rocco D’Amato”, via del Gomito 2, 40127 Bologna, Italia. [Correct as of: 19/12/23]

Following the final handing down of sentences in the Operation Panico case by the Court of Cassation, Paska was sentenced to 6 years in relation to an explosive device placed in front of a fascist bookshop in Florence.

Dayvid Ceccarelli, C. C. di Viterbo, strada S. Salvatore 14/B, 01100 Viterbo, Italy. [Correct as of: 19/12/23]

On June 29, 2022, in Athens, Dayvid 'Ciga' Ceccarelli was arrested. He was sentenced to 6 years for the clashes of October 15, 2011 in Rome by the Supreme Court on May 25, 2022.

Stefano Mangione, C.C. di Cuneo, via Roncata, 75, 12100 Cuneo, Italy. [Correct as of: 19/12/23]

On March 4, 2022 Stefano was sentenced to one year and six months in prison after being convicted of aggravated resistance after a group of No TAV activists tried to hang a banner outside the Palace of Justice in Turin. The young No Tav activist and anarchist had been part of a group mounting a protest in solidarity with an activist harassed by the police, when they too were attacked by the police.

March 28 Raids
On March 28, 2023 two houses, one in Napoli and one in Pozzuoli, were raided and four comrades were taken to the police station, in connection with a 270 bis investigation (anti-terrorist association). Although the investigation is still ongoing, one comrade – Marco Marino aka 'Zac' – was placed under preventive arrest, accused of an arson attack against the Greek consulate in 2021. The prosecution contextualizes this attack within the campaign in solidarity with revolutionary Greek prisoner Dimitris Koufontinas, who at the time was on hunger strike.

Marco Marino, C. C. di Terni, strada delle Campore 32, 05100 Terni, Italy. [Correct as of: 19/12/23]

Juan Antonio Sorroche Fernandez, C. C. di Terni, strada delle Campore 32, 05100 Terni, Italia – Italy. [Correct as of: 19/12/23]

Juan went underground in 2017 after a warrant for his arrest was issued. He was sentenced to one year imprisonment for false identity on the occasion of an inspection in Val Clarea (Val di Susa). With more trials open and several extra years in prison, he decided to go underground and released a Communiqué from Freedom.
Juan was arrested on May 22, 2019 in Brescia, along with Manu - a comrade who is being charged with aiding and abetting. In addition, Juan is accused of unionism with the aim of terrorism and / or the overthrow of the democratic order, a terrorist act with deadly and explosive devices, massacres (§285) for the attack against the party office of "Lega Nord" in Treviso in August 2018, as well as the possession of forged documents (§497bis) and carrying weapons (due to a small knife, §4 of the Law 110/75) accused. Manuel was transferred under house arrest in March 2020. On 9 July 2022, Juan was sentenced to 28 years in jail.
UPDATE: On March 28th Juan's sentence of 28 years’ prison in first grade was reduced to 14 years and 10 months by the appeal court of Venice. [12/04/23]

Operazione Renata
During the night and the morning of Tuesday, February 19, 2019, seven anarchists were arrested in various places in Trentino (Italy): Agnese, Giulio, Nico, Poza, Rupert, Sasha, Stecco. One person (Sasha) was placed under house arrest while all the others were imprisoned in various prisons. The main accusations are "subversive association for the purpose of terrorism and subversion of the democratic order" (article 270bis of the penal code) and "terrorist attack" (article 280 of the penal code), with reference to some direct actions that took place in Trentino during the last few years. Other offences of which they are accused are: "interruption of public service", "damage", "sabotage of telematic devices", "fire" and "transport of exploding material".

At the same time 50 searches were carried out, with about 150 policemen and Carabinieri mobilized in the repressive operation (which was given the name "operation Renata", apparently a name taken from the nickname given to a car used by some comrades). The investigations were conducted by Digos (state police) and ROS (Carabinieri). On the same day of the arrests, a press conference took place in Rome, organised by anti-terrorism. It is clear the attempt to hit the anarchist presence in Trentino, pigeonholing and describing the relations between anarchist comrades within a phantom "subversive association" (with leaders, inciters, cashiers, responsible, "hideouts", etc.), an accusation trying to convey as many years as possible in prison.

UPDATE: Convictions were handed down for the crimes of production of false documents, damage, violation of the arms law on December 5th. Poza was sentenced to two years and six months; Agnes and Stecco at two years; Rupert at one year and nine months; Sasha and Nico at one year and ten months; Giulio was acquitted and released on the same day. [Correct as of: 10/12/19]

Luca Dolce, C. C. di Sanremo, strada Armea 144, 18038 Sanremo (IM), Italia. [Correct as of: 18/12/23]
After two years on the run, Luca [Stecco] has been arrested on the border between Italy and France in October 2023 - he is waiting trial for the "no name" operation, charged with aiding and abetting a fugitive (Juan Sorroche) and falsification of ID documents.

Roberto Bottamedi,
Andrea Parolari,
C. C. di Trento, via Cesare Beccaria 13, Località Spini di Gardolo, 38121 Trento, Italia. [Correct as of: 19/12/23]

Linked to Operation Renata - both are now on the semi-libertà regime (obliged to go back to prison at night).

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Juan Antonio Sorroche Fernandez, C. C. di Terni, strada delle Campore 32, 05100 Terni, Italy. [Correct as of: 15/01/22]

In May 22, 2019, anarchist comrade Juan, a fugitive and wanted for about two years for some final sentences, was arrested. Two houses were searched in the province of Brescia and two homes of parents of a companion and a companion in the Brescia hinterland. Another comrade (Manu) was also arrested, initially stopped and whose arrest was then validated (he was also taken to the prison in Brescia), accused of 'personal aiding' (article 378 of the Criminal Code), with the aggravating circumstance of 'aiding the abduction of the execution of the sentence' (in reference to Juan's inaction). In the following days there were other searches at the same homes that were already searched. Furthermore, Juan is accused of an explosive attack on a Lega Nord headquarters (August 2018, Treviso), with accusations of 'massacre' and 'terrorist attack'. For these accusations he would have received a notification of custody in prison. At the beginning of June they were transferred to the prisons of Terni and Monza (Juan is in a section AS2).

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Operation Scripta Manent
On September 6, 2016, Torino’s section of the DIGOS antiterrorist unit unleashed an anti-anarchist operation under the name 'Scripta Manent'. House searches were conducted in various regions of Italy. Anarchists Alfredo Cospito and Nicola Gai, incarcerated since September 2012 for kneecapping Adinolfi (Olga Cell FAI/FRI), received a new arrest notification whilst in prison. Additionally, six arrests were made on the outside (five in the context of this operation; one as outcome of a house search).

Operation Scripta Manent seeks to attribute to the accused a series of actions claimed by FAI (Informal Anarchist Federation) in Italy. Therefore, the comrades Marco, Sandrone, Anna, Danilo and Valentina, alongside Nicola and Alfredo [see separate entry below], are likely to face charges of "subversive association with terrorist intent".

Anna Beniamino [imprisoned since September 6, 2016]
C. C. "G. Stefanini" – Rebibbia, via Bartolo Longo 92, 00156 Roma, Italia. [Correct as of: 19/12/23]

Anna was detained in 2019 and sentenced to 16.5 year of prison within the Scripta
Manent operation that tried to attribute to a single direction a series of direct actions
claimed by the Informal Anarchist Organization. In particular, the attacks inserted in this investigation include the parcel-bombs sent to the CPT’s [detention centres for immigrants] director in Modena in May 2005, to the traffic cops barracks in Torino-San Salvario and to the chief-police of Lecce (claimed by FAI/Narodnaja Volja), the explosive device against the RIS barracks [carabinieri forensics] in Parma (October 24, 2005, claimed by FAI/Cooperativa Artigiana Fuoco e Affinioccasionalmente spettacolare), the parcel-bomb sent to the Mayor of Bologna Sergio Cofferati (November 2, 2005, claimed by FAI/Cooperativa Artigiana Fuoco e Affinioccasionalmente spettacolare), the devices against the carabinieri cadets’ barracks in Fossano (June 2, 2006, claimed by FAI/RAT-Rivolta Anonima e Tremenda), the devices placed in the Turin neighbourhood, Crocetta (March 7, 2007, claimed by FAI/RAT); among the other actions also the wounding of Adinolfi (May 7, 2012), despite the fact that two comrades have already been convicted and have publicly claimed this attack, to corroborate the crime of association. It seems that the investigators, felt the need to structure their clues, used even linguistic and graphology experts, in addition to electronic and computer surveillance, and tailing.

Alfredo Cospito
C. C. "G. Bacchiddu", strada provinciale 56 n. 4, Località Bancali, 07100 Sassari, Italy. [Correct as of: 19/12/23]
NB: Since Alfredo is being held under 41-bis, he cannot receive books or publications and his mail is held indefinitely.

Alfredo Cospito and Nicola Gai were arrested on September 14th, 2012 and accused of shooting Ansaldo Nucleare manager and Finmeccanica affiliate, Roberto Adinolfi, in the knees – an action carried out by Olga nucleus FAI/FRI in May 2012. In May 2015, their sentences were reduced, Alfredo’s to 9 years and 5 months in prison, Nicola’s to 8 years and 8 months.

In September 2016, they were declared suspects in a new case of participation in an underground organisation with terrorist intentions (Informal Federation of Anarchists). In April 2019, Alfredo was sentenced to 20 years, held responsible for the possession and transport of explosives in relation to the bomb in Parco Ducale near the Parma RIS ("scientific investigation department" of Carabinieri) of 24 October 2005 (acquitted of the crime of attack because the "crime was impossible" as the switch of the bomb was off), of the explosive envelope sent to the then mayor of Bologna Cofferati in 2 November 2005 (convicted of the bombing plus "possession and transportation of explosives"), of attacks with multiple explosive devices at the Carabinieri school of Fossano on June 2, 2006, and in the Crocetta district in Turin in 7 March 2007 (crime of "massacre aggravated by the fact that the goal would have been the police" and acquitted of the aggravating circumstance of political motivation), of sending explosive parcels to the then mayor of Turin (Chiamparino), to the editor of the newspaper "Torino Cronaca" (Giuseppe Fossati) and to COEMA Edilità (company involved in the restructuring of the CIE, "identification and expulsion centre" for migrants) in July 2006. He is also indicated as promoter of the FAI (Federazione Anarchica Informale), recognised as a "subversive association with terrorism purposes". The aggravating circumstance of trans-nationality has fallen. [Updated: 05/08/21]

UPDATE: On November 24, 2020 the following sentences were handed down ito those comrades convicted during the first trial:

— Anna Beniamino: 16 years and 6 months (first trial: 17 years).
— Alfredo Cospito: 20 years (as in the first trial), in continuation with the sentence of cassation at 9 years, 5 months and 10 days of the trial for the action against Adinolfi.
— Nicola Gai: 1 year and 1 month (first trial: 9 years), in continuation with the sentence of cassation at 8 years, 8 months and 20 days of the trial for the action against Adinolfi.
— Alessandro Mercogliano: acquitted of all charges (first trial: 5 years).
— Marco Bisesti: acquitted from the charge of "subversive association with the purpose of terrorism and subversion of the democratic order" (first trial: 5 years), but sentenced to 1 year and 9 months for "incitement to commit crimes" in relation to embership of 'Croce Nera Anarchica' (Anarchist Black Cross).

The sentence for "subversive association with the purpose of terrorism and subversion of the democratic order" has been confirmed for Anna Beniamino, Alfredo Cospito and Nicola Gai. As a result, comrades Nicola Gai, Alessandro Mercogliano and Marco Bisesti were then released. [26/11/20]

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Genoa 10
The Italian High Court confirmed on Friday 13th July 2012 the sentences for the 10 activists were guilty of devastation and looting crimes against private property and sentenced for crimes of "devastation and looting" during the G8 summit in Genoa in 2001. Five of the defendants have been granted right to appeal against other related charges, and their cases will be re-examined by the judges. The other five had their appeals rejected and were imprisoned. In 2014, two of the sentenced were released on probation and under house arrest.

Francesco Puglisi - Released ["affidamento in prova ai servizi sociali) (probation assignment with social service)]

Francesco Puglisi, who likes to be called by his nickname "Gimmy", went on the run after being sentenced to 14 years in prison following a trial for "devastation and looting" during the 2001 Genoa revolt, was arrested in Barcelona on June 5, 2013. He was then extradited to Italy and has been in the transit section of Rebibbia prison in Rome since July 5, in Jimmy's words, "waiting until the dogs of the administration or the Department of Penitentiary Administration decide in which section to put me," and was later moved on to a wing in the same prison.

Davide Delogu, transferred to house arrest on October 15, 2023 [Updated: 19/12/23]

An anarchist convicted of a number of robberies and thefts, Davide has already spent more than 20 years in prison. On May 1, 2017, he attempted to escape from the Brucoli prison in Augusta, Sicily, almost succeeding. In April 2019 he was transferred to the prison in Rossano Calabro and also in the same month censorship of his correspondence was imposed. He is currently under the punnative 14 bis solitary isolation regime with approximately two more years disciplinary isolation left. [Updated: 01/04/20]

Mauro Rossetti Busa, Casa de reclusión de Ópera, via Camporgnano 40, 20100 Milán, Italia. [Updated: 16/08/22]

Mauro Rossetti Busa was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment for fire, evasion and manufacture of explosive material, threats and with the aggravating circumstance of recidivism and social danger. The original attacks took place in 2018 in the vicinity of the headquarters of Casapound and the multinational distributor Eni in Sant’Anna, which has for some time been in the sights of anarchists for its activities abroad. Mauro Rossetti Busa had previously been involved in an attack on a public prosecutor in Florence in March 2004. During the hearing he remained unwavering in his convictions: "I’ll send you a pack-bomb, the next one will be for you and these cops," he said.

RUSSIA

NB: Moscow ABC advise that letters in English are seldom accepted in Russian prisons, so if you do not have a chance to write in Russian (i.e. by using simply phrases and translating them by a translation program), just send photos and postcards.

Yaroslav Vilchevski, [Yaroslav Borisovich Vilchevski 1990 g.r.] SIZO-1, Partizanski pr. 28b. Vladivostok, Primorski Kray 690106 Russia. [Correct as of: 18/01/24]

Yaroslav is a punk-rock musician and animal rights activist. He is accused of "public justification of terrorism online" due to posting about suicide bombing by Mikhail Zhobitsky against FSB in Arkhangelsk in 2018. He is currently in remand prison of Vladivostok.

Saveli Frolov, [Saveli Aleksandrovich Frolov 2001 g.r.], ul. Mordovtseva d. 6 SIZO 6, 362040 resp. Severnaya Osetiya – Alaniya, Russia. [Correct as of: 18/01/24]

Saveli Frolov (Савелий Фролов) is a children and youth sport instructor from Narodo-Fominsk of the Moscow region, who attempted to leave Russia for Georgia on October the 30th. He was arrested on the border, and detained first for frivolous charges of "refusing orders of the border guards" and then "minor hooliganism". Then on the 2nd of December he was charged for allegedly "attempting to cross to side of the enemy". According to authorities, he planned to leave Russia to join the Free Russia Legion, which is fighting on side of Ukraine against Russia. He may face up to 10 years in prison.

Since the begin of the war, Saveli has joined in anti-war actions and was imprisoned for 10 days for distributing anti-war leaflets. Online paper Bumaga made a lengthy article on Saveli and his case last December. [Correct as of: 01/07/23]

Denis Kozak (Денис Козак) from Rostov-na-Donu has been detained in Kazakhstan since the February 9th, formally "for violating immigration regime". In 2022, Kozak was charged with "justification of terrorism" due to comments he allegedly made about the suicide bombing by anarchist Mikhail Zhlobitsky against the FSB security services. An extradition request by Russia is currently being processed by the Kazakhstan authorities, and Kozak has also requested asylum in Kazakhstan.

Kozak spent his 20th birthday on the April 1st in prison. He has been involved in numerous anarchist projects online, such as Anarcho News, Russian Syndicalism and RAVANCHE, You may send support mail to Kozak via his support group: [email protected] [Correct as of: 01/07/23]

Roman Shvedov, [Shvedov Roman Valerevich 1985 g.r.], SIZO-1, ul. Gorkogo d. 219, 344022 Rostov-na-Donu Russia. [Correct as of: 18/01/24]

Around 3 AM on September 23, 2022 someone threw a firebomb with 3 litres of gasoline to an administration building in the Zimovski municipality of the Rostov region. Roman Shvedov (Роман Шведов) was soon arrested and charged with terrorism.

Solidarity Zone organised a lawyer to visit Roman in March, whom he told that he is an anarchist and in very bad spirits. He refused any further support in the form of lawyers, saying that he will be rotting in prison for years and lawyers cannot change the outcome of his case. Please write to Roman to cheer him up. [Correct as of: 01/07/23]

Chita Anarchists
On October 31, 2022 two anarchist teenagers from Chita, Russian Far East, a 19 years old Aleksandr Snezhkov and a 16 year old Lyubov Lizunova were arrested for writing a graffiti "Death to the regime". They were also suspected of administrating a telegram channel with anarchist and anti-war messages.

They were soon released pending trial, but after an unsuccessful attempt to escape, Alexandr Snezhkov was transferred to a remand prison, and Lyubov Lizunova was transferred to home arrest. Moreover, the case has also a third suspect, whose name has so far not been published by the authorities. However, she also has to hired a lawyer, and anarchists from Khabarovsk have announced a fundraiser for her. You may also contribute via PayPal of ABC-Moscow, [email protected], but in this case it is important to add a message "For third Chita defendant" in order to not confuse it with other donations.

UPDATE: The court in the Chita case convicted all three defendants and the following senteces were handed down:
Liubov Lisunova - 3.5 years.
Alexander Snezkov - 6 years.
Vladislav Vishnevsky [the third previously unnamed defendant] - 1.5 years

Liuba doesn't have good lawyer, plus she's a minor. There was an earlier attempt to judge Sasha as a minor, but it was not successful. There will be appeals. Alexander's lawуer is paid. Liuba refused the lawyer that we found. [14/05/24]

Alexandr Snezhkov [Snezhkov Aleksandr Evgenevich 2003 g.r.,] SIZO-1, Ingodinskaya ul. d.1, Zabaykalski kray 672039 Russia. [Correct as of: 18/01/24]
[Letters can also be sent as e-mail via ABC-Moscow: [email protected]]

Tyumen Case
At the end of August 2022, six antifascists - Yuri Neznamov (27 y.o.), Danil Chertykov (28), Nikita Oleinik (27), Roman Paklin (25), Kirill Brik (24) and Deniz Aidyn (23) - some of whom are anarchists, were arrested in Tyumen, Yekaterinburg and Surgut. Authorities claim that the arrested had explosives, with which they were planning to blow up a power station and two of the six are additionally accused of manufacturing explosives. All arrested are accused according to statue 205.4, "Organising of a terrorist community and participation in it", of Russian criminal codex. Through their lawyers, three of the arrested have told that they were subjected to torture by electric shock weapons.
[ABC Moscow translation of a BBC Russian article]

NB: ABC Moscow are no longer supporting Kirill Brik as he gave pre-trial testimony incriminating others.

The address for letters:
Deniz Aidyn [Aidyn Deniz Alattinovich 1999 g.r.]
Yuri Neznamov [Neznamov Yuri Yevgenevich 1995 g.r.]
Danil Chertykov [Chertykov Danil Germanobich 1994 g.r.]
Roman Paklin [Paklin Roman Vladimirovich 1997 g.r.]
SIZO-1, ul. Yalutorovskaya d.42, 625000 Tyumen Russia.
[Correct as of: 18/01/24]

Nikita Oleinik [Oleinik Nikita Vitalevich 1995 g.r.]
pre-trial detention center-2, Perevozkin Brothers St., Zavodoukovsk, 29g, 627100, Tyumen region, Russia.
[Correct as of: 18/01/24]

"Minecraft Terrorists" Case
Two boys, who turned 15 years old last year, Nikita Uvarov and Denis Mikhaylenko, have been in jail since last summer, accused of plotting a terrorist attack. According to the charges, they were, among other things, planning to build the headquarters of the Russian security service FSB in Minecraft, and to blow it up there. The two were arrested in June 2020 after they spread posters demanding the release of anarchist and mathematician Azat Miftakhov, arrested in Moscow. One of the posters was posted on the local FSB building in Kansk. Denis and Nikita were also planning to organise a Food Not Bombs-event in Kansk, to give food to the homeless.
A third teenager, Bogdan Andreev was also arrested at the same time but is currently under house arrest, and is not allowed to use phone or Internet. All three are charged with "Studying in order to carry out a terrorist attack", and "Membership and founding of a terrorist organisation". Besides playing Minecraft and putting up posters, the three were preparing small fireworks and discussing means to struggle against the current regime in Russia. With these charges, adults would spend in prison at least 15 years, up to a jail sentence. Because Denis, Nikita and Bogdan are underage, maximum sentence is 10 years in prison. [see: The 14 Year Old Minecraft "Terrorists" Of Russia for more on the story]

UPDATE: On February 10, 2022, Nikita, Denis and Bogdan we found guilty of "undergoing training for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities" by the Eastern Military Court in Krasnoyarsk. Nikita was sentenced to five years in a penal colony, while Denis and Bogdan were handed three and four-year suspended sentences.

Nikita Uvarov [Uvarov Nikita Andreevich, 2005 g.r.], 663600, Krasnoyarski kray, Kansk, ul. Krasnoy Armii, 1 str. 8, KVK, Russia. [Correct as of: 18/01/24]

'Network' Case
In the run-up to presidential elections and the FIFA World Cup, repression against antifascists and anarchists started in Russia. In Autumn 2017, 6 people were arrested in Penza; several of them had weapons and explosives planted on them. FSB officers then tortured the antifascists right in the detention facility: they applied naked wires to the activists’ various body parts and turned the electricity on, they beat them up, hanged them upside down. While torturing them, the agents made the activists learn by heart the story the FSB needed: they were supposed to confess of having founded and belonging to a terrorist organisation called 'The Network'. In late January 2018, two more antifascists were arrested in Saint-Petersburg. They, too, were beaten up, tortured with electric current, and forced to incriminate themselves by confirming they were members of the 'Network'.
For the full background to the case, see: https://rupression.com/en/

Viktor Filinkov, [Filinkov Viktor Sergeevich 1994 g.r.], IK-1 Krymskiy per. 119, 460026 g. Orenburg, Russia. [Correct as of: 18/01/24]

Viktor Filinkov (Виктор Филинков) as born in Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan. From the age of 10 have interest in remote control robots, fixing electronic devices, computer programming. After school moved to Omsk (Russia) where he started working as computer programmer (coder). Linux-community user, open-source software and open-internet enthusiast. Gave lectures about internet-security. Left-wing activist, antifascist and supporter of the trade union movement, who identifies as an anarchist.
On January 23th of 2018 was arrested by FSB during investigation of so-called 'Network' case.
In June 2020, St. Petersburg’s military court sentenced Viktor Filinkov, 25, to seven years and Yuli Boyarshinov, 28, to 5.5 years in a penal colony.

Yuliy Boyarshinov, Released from prison on 21/04/23.

Yuliy Boyarshinov (Юлий Бояршинов) was born in St.Petersburg, Russia. Studied at ITMO University, faculty of physics and engineering. Worked as industrial alpinists.
For the last 5 years he was one of the organisers of 'Free Market' in St.Petersburg, it’s an event, where you can take the things you need and leave the ones you don’t need. Vegetarian, volunteer in animal shelters. Enjoys travelling and hiking, likes science fiction.
On January 21 of 2018 was arrested. On 11th of April Yuliy was changed with participation on terrotistic society 'Network'. FSB officers were threatening him to worsen his prison conditions if Yuliy will not cooperate. Later they moved him to another cell with 150 prisoners - murder, rape, and robbery convicts. Moreover cell has only 115 beds.
In June 2020, St. Petersburg’s military court sentenced Yuli Boyarshinov, 28, to 5.5 years in a penal colony (commuted to 5 years 3 months).

Mikhail Kulkov [Kulkov Mikhail Alekseevich 1994 g.r.], FKU IK-6 UFSIN Rossii po Respublike Mariy El ul. Stroiteley 56a g. Yoshkar-Ola 424006 Russia Venäjä. [Correct as of: 18/01/24]

Born in Penza, he graduated from the Penza Trade and Economic College, specialty cook-technologist. After studying he served the army as radio man. After the army he planned to open a fast-food joint for the beginning, and in the future a cafe.
Detained on July 4, 2018 in the frame of the investigation of the so-called 'Network' case.
In 2020, he was sentenced to 10 years prison on charges of participation in a terrorist group (part 2 of the statute 205.4 of Russian criminal codex), and drug related charges (part 3 of statute 30 with parameter "g" of part 4 of statute 228.1 of the Russian criminal codex).

Andrey Chernov [Chernov Andrei Sergeevich, 1989 g.r.], FKU IK-5 UFSIN Rossii po Udmurtskoy Respublike 427965 ul. Raskolnikova 53a g. Sarapul, Udmurtskaya Respublika 427965 Russia Venäjä. [Correct as of: 18/01/24]

Born in the city of Kamenka in the Penza region. He studied at the Penza Pedagogical Institute at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics. A vegetarian, he took part in 'Feed the hungry' actions. He lived with his twin brother Alexei in a rented apartment in Penza and worked in a factory as a fitter. Detained in early November 2017 as part of the so-called 'Network' case investigations. He was charged under Part 2 of Art. 205.4 of the Criminal Code of Russia (Participation in Terrorist Group).
You can also send Vasiliy a message online via RosUznik.

Vasiliy Kuksov [Kuksov Vasiliy Alekseevich, 1988 g.r.], FKU LIU-3 GUFSIN Rossii po Nizhegorodskoy oblasti, ul. Centralnaya d. 22, Krasnobakovskiy rayon, p. Prudy Nizhegorodskaya oblast 606707 Russia Venäjä. [Correct as of: 18/01/24]

Born in Serdobsk in the Penza region, he studied at an Agricultural academy before working as an constructing engineer in Penza. Volonteered in animal shelters. Since being a student interested in music: many times participated in the 'Hoper' song-writing contest, was a member of the band Academic, and used to perform in Penza Philharmonia. Enjoys nature and hiking. Married to his girlfriend who he dated for 10 years before being arrested on November 19, 2017, during investigation of so-called 'Network' case. He was beaten-up during his interrogation.
You can also send Vasiliy a message online via RosUznik.

Ilya Shakurskiy [Shakurskiy Ilya Alexandrovich, 1996 g.r.], FKU IK-17 UFSIN Rossii po Respublike Mordoviya, 431161, Zubovo-Polyanskij rajon, p. Ozernyj, ul. Lesnaya, d. 3, Russia. [Correct as of: 18/01/24]

At the time of his arrest, Ilya was living in Penza and was a student of the Faculty of Physics, Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the Pedagogical Institute n.a. Belinsky of Penza State University. An environmental activist-ecologist, anarchist and anti-fascist, at school he helped organise his classmates in a clean-up of the river Moksha. On October 19, 2017, the FSB officers detained as part of the so-called 'Network' case investigations. Charged under Part 1 of Art. 205.4 of the Criminal Code of Russia (Organization of terrorist group). Arrested. During the investigation, Shakurskiy was tortured: beaten, tortured with electricity, hung upside down.
You can also send Vasiliy a message online via RosUznik.

Check Rupression for updates.

---

Azat Miftakhov [Miftakhov Azat Fanisovich, 1993 g.r.].
FKU IK-17, 612740, Kirovskaya obl., Omutinsk, ul. Trudovykh rezervov, 125, Russia. [Correct as of: 18/01/24]

Anarchist Azat Miftakhov was detained by law enforcement officers on the morning of February 1, 2019 on suspicion of making explosives and attacking a ruling party office in Moscow. He was sentenced to 6 years in prison.

Pavel Krisevich [Pavel Olegovich Krisevich. 2000 g.r.], SIZO-2, ul. Novoslobodskaya 45, 127055 Moscow, Russia. [Correct as of: 18/01/24]

Pavel Krisevich is an actionist artist, who has been detained several times for his performances, all of which have been against repression and for political prisoners in Russia. His last action was a symbolic suicide performance in the Red Square with a gun loaded with blank cartridges on June 11, 2021. We support Krisevich not because he has been part of the anarchist movement (he has not), but because he has prominently supported repressed anarchists, especially those in the Penza-St. Petersburg Network case.

Evgeni Karakashev, Released 01/02/24

Evgeny Karakashev was born on August 21, 1978 and lives in Yevpatoria, Crimea. On February 1, 2018, Karakashev was detained, and on February 2, 2018, arrested on suspicion of committing crimes under Part 1 of Art. 282 (the incitement of hatred and enmity) and Part 2 of Art. 205.2 (public calls for terrorism) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. According to the investigation, Karakashev published a video on one of his pages in social network VKontakte at the end of 2014, which allegedly calls for terrorism. In addition, according to the order, in January 2017, he posted from another account in a chat room for 35 people a text that contains signs of "propaganda of the ideology of violence" and "calls for terrorist activities". In April 2019, he was sentenced to 6 years of prison.

For more information: link

See also: wiki.avtonom.org for up-to-date listings of prisoners in the ex-Soviet Union that are currently being supported by Moscow ABC.

SPAIN

Gabriel Pombo da Silva, Released from prison on 11/07/23]

Spanish insurrectionary anarchist and former long-term prisoner, who is best known for his book 'Diario e ideario de un delincuente' (Diary and ideology of a criminal; 2006) and his involvement in the so-called ‘Aachen 4 case’, has long been the target for the repressive forces of states across Europe. He is once again in prison following his detention on yet another international arrest warrant awaiting extradition to Spain.

Gabriel's currently legal situation is as follows:

* The Girona prosecutor's office demands that Gabriel serve another 16 years following an interpretation of a non-existent penalty calculation, as they are attempting to deny the 'principle de especialidad' should have previously applied (one of the reasons why Gabriel's release was possible in June 2016). This must also be claimed and reiterated by Germany at the request of Portugal if deemed appropriate.
* Extradition remains frozen while Portugal analyzes the situation, questions Germany about the 'principle de especialidad' and determines the situation in order to grant extradition or not.
* The objective of the defence is immediate release thanks to the recognition of the same 'principle de especialidad'
* If this is not achieved, the goal would be to avoid extradition and to ensure that he would serve his supposed residual sentence in Portugal, avoiding the persecution he would undergo in Spanish prisons.
* In the event of extradition, we would fight so that this sentence is not served, by the application of reduced sentences and mergers of different sentences, which has never happened until now (this could happen even if he is imprisoned in Portugal).
* In any case, it is necessary to work via legal avenues so that no power of attorney can reopen any previous lawsuit and make any possible arrest warrant vain.

Given that Gabriel's legal case will include the need for legal representation in both Spain and Portugal, and in all likelihood Germany too, his legal expenses will be high. A bank account has been opened, on behalf of his partner Elisa, so that he can receive solidarity contributions in the quickest, direct and most organised means possible.

Owner: Elisa Di Bernardor
Bank: Bankinterr
Iban: ES06-0128-0180-3601-0009-8696r
Bic/Swift Code: BKBKESMMXXX

UPDATE: Gabriel was handed over to the Spanish authorities on May 12th and is currently in prison in Badajoz (Extremadura) under the FIES 5 regime, created for prisoners with «special characteristics» [e.g. international crime, gender violence or with racist or xenophobic character, very serious crimes that have caused great social alarm, Islamist terrorism, radical fanaticism related to terrorist ideology, ect.] and has been given the 2nd degree (previously he could access prison benefits, enjoy permits and even probation), and the intervention of all communications (letters are opened and read, visits are recorded). [20/06/20]

Toni Chavero Mejías, Cárcel de Extremera (Madrid VII), Carretera M-241-Km 5.750, 28595 Madrid, Spain. [Correct as of: 16/08/22]

Toni Chavero (TC) is from Madrid, is 52 years old and has been in and out of prison since 1996, always for robbery-related convictions and some confrontation with the jailers. Between one thing and another, he has been in prison for more than twenty years and is to be released in 2026. In his own words, he was "a politoxicomano (poly-drug user) until I opened my eyes and started to fight". He is in contact with comrades in Madrid, Asturias and Lleida and also with Gabriel Pombo. His mail is tapped.

Altsasu Eight
The Altsasu group are eight Basque youths who faced charges of terrorism over a bar fight in which two off-duty Civil Guards and their girlfriends were injured. They were convicted of public disorder, but not terrorism, and sentenced to between two and 13 years in prison for the crimes of attacking agents of the authorities, injuries, public disorder and threats.
The court decided that the fight was down to "ideological reasons and antagonism towards the Civil Guard", and the judges imposed the maximum sentences possible for the charges. They included aggravating factors of abuse of superiority and hatred.
The court imposed sentences of 13 years in prison for Oihan Arnanaz and Iñaki Abad, 12 years for Jokin Unamuno and Adur Ramírez de Alza, nine years for Julen Goikoetxea and Aratz Urrizola and two for Ainara Urkijo. They also ruled compensation of €9,200 for the Civil Guard lieutenant involved, €3,750 for the sergeant and €6,100 each for their partners.

Contact address for all the Altsasu 8 prisoners:
Centro Penitenciario Madrid VII, Estremera, Madrid / Carretera M-241, Km.5.750, CP 28595, Spain. [Correct as of: 11/06/18]

www.altsasugurasoak.com/en/

Straight Edge Madrid
Five comrades from a vegan and anarchist group from Madrid, Spain, called Straight Edge Madrid were arrested on November 4, 2015 in their families’ houses. One of them was not in the country but the police were looking for him too.
On Friday four of them were freed but had to pay €3.000, 4.000 and 10.000 in bail fees respectively, the other two, Borja Marquerie Echave and José Manuel Bustamante Vergara, were imprisoned without bail. They are accused of being part of a terrorist organisation and the police has taken away personal belongings such as hoodies, books and their computers. This is another move by a repressive state using excessive police force distracting from real political issues to sway the voters for the coming election.
The group they were part of (which has been forced to dissolve by police pressure) was anarchist, anti-speciesism and anti-drugs, they were organised and did a lot of activities to heighten people’s awareness of the state and its forms of repression.
Manuel and Borja are known to our Spanish comrades and they need our help. They are in separate prisons with FIES 3 regime which effectively means they have restricted communication and they are completely cut off from the outside.

UPDATE: Borja and Manuel have since been released on bail pending trial. [05/01/17]

Support Campaign Bank Account details:
0049 6396 51 2790012974 Santander
(Recordamos no poner nada en concepto).

TURKEY

Osman Evcan, Silivri Kapalı Cezaevi Infaz Kurumu (9 Nolu), Oda No: A-6-41, Kampüs PTT Cezaevi Şubesi, Istanbul/Silivri Cezaevi, Turkey. [Correct as of: 16/08/22]

Osman Evcan is an anarchist prisoner who spent his last 23 years in prison. In 1992 he was sentenced to 30 years in prison on charges of being a member of a leftist terrorist group and robbery. He was also imprisoned for 9 years between 1980-89. Osman adopted anarchist ideas in 2003, and has also become a vegan and supports animal liberation struggles.
Osman Evcan has been imprisoned in many different prisons all over the country during his conviction, fighting against authoritarian violence and especially the violence and oppression which is a systemic part of the prison’s hierarchical structure, and has continued his fight against prison’s oppressive mentality, without giving an inch, through a number of hunger strikes.
His first hunger strike in 2011, which lasted 42 days, was for vegan food to be available in prison. During that protest, anarchists and animal liberationists from all over the world, as well as in Turkey, supported Osman’s fight to access vegan food in prison. After 42 days on hunger strike the government gave in and made regulations for the vegan and vegetarian prisoners: "Vegan or vegetarian prisoners demands will be accepted as long as its limited by subsistence allowance."
After this victory, Osman continued the anarchist struggle from within the prison system. He has supported the LGBT, Animal Liberation, women rights and anti-imperialist struggles outside prison and has carried out 3-day hunger strikes to protest the animal massacre during each 'feast of sacrifice' every year. He has also written articles in support of a wide range of struggles and continues his political fight as much as he can from prison.

Markéta Všelichová and Miroslav Farkas were arrested on November 13, 2016 while attempting to cross the Habur border crossing from Turkey to Iraq. They were accused of participating in terrorist activity in Northern Syria and taken into custody. On the August 2 they were sentenced to 6 years and 3 months for belonging to the Kurdish defence forces YGP/YPJ (these non-state kurdish groups are fighting Daesh/ISIS, the turkish army which has been repressing Kurds for several decades, and the dictatorial regime of Bashar Al-Asad).

Markéta had been to Rojava twice, according to her own words she joined the defence forces and fell in love with the region and its specific cultural and political situation. This time she and Mirek were on their way to Rojava, where they planned to set up a field hospital for fighters and civilians, and eventually help with defence, as she says herself. Together they made a campaign before their big journey, during which they wanted to acquire the necessary material, while also not being afraid to make lectures about life, fighting and revolution in the region. These public activities also probably raised the interest of Turkish agents.

In an interview Markéta said she feels with people, who risk their life in the fight against evil, that she would like to help Rojava with anything it needs, and that she realises that as a European she has greater possibilities how to get involved and help. A bit my own way, but with them, as she said. Often we read about how Mirek and Markéta are not terrorists but innocent victims. We completely understand and respect this reaction of their close friends and family, but we do not think it is a strategy that is helpful to us nor do we dare to claim that both people in prison would agree with it. We do not want to waste energy by endlessly repeating the statement that they are not terrorists. Not because we think the opposite but because from historical and personal experience we know that the term terrorist itself is an empty term which the the state uses to label anyone it considers its enemy. In the Czech Republic it is used to describe anarchists, in western Europe radical Islamists and in Turkey it is used to describe the people who fight them.

Markéta and Mirek chose to make a brave step and unfortunately fell into custody of the Turkish state, the biggest oppressor of the Kurdish people for many decades and who therefore sees both activists as its enemy. Now they are both in a Turkish prison. If you feel solidarity with them and want to support them then first of all do not hesitate and write them a letter to the following addresses. (Letters must be written in English, you will find what to write and what not to write in the section "How to write letters")[https://antifenix.noblogs.org/files/2015/06/dopisovani_veznum.pdf]

Markéta’s address:

Van T Tipi Kapali Ceza İnfaz Kurumu
Markéta Všelichová
Tevekli Mah. Erciş Yolu (Erciş Yolu 25. Km) Tuşba / Van
650 40
Turecká republika – Türkiye Cumhuriyeti

Mirek’s address:

Van F Tipi Yuksek Guvenlikli Kapali Ceza Infaz Kurumu
Miroslav Farkas
Abdurrahman Gazi, Km, Ipek Yolu Cd. N°25
650 40 Van Merkez/Van
Turecká republika – Türkiye Cumhuriyeti

On mirekamarketa.cz you can find out about the legal campaign, possibilities of financial support of legal help and you will also find more information and materials.

 

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