The Tattoo Circus is a DIY organized festival against repression and imprisonment. The Tattoo Circus began 2007 in Rome and since then activists from all around Europe (Barcelona, London, Thessaloniki, Bern, Athens, Madrid, Basel, Berlin… etc) took on the concept for supporting those people who can’t be among us. We are happy that this event will take place in Amsterdam as well and are sure it´s going to be an inspiring festival.

The idea behind this solidarity event is to create a space where tattoo culture and political involvement come together. Several tattoo artists will provide their creativity, experience and as much ink as possible, in order to support the anti-prison struggle and to become a part of it. The principle of the Tattoo Circus is that nobody earns anything from this event, neither the tattooists, nor the piercers, the bands, performers or speakers, and the complete proceeds will go to those people who fight against the state and capitalism.

Every euro collected in Tattoo Circus goes directly to structures supporting prisoners and the Anti-Prison-Fight. Tattoo Circus won’t limit itself to the tattoo culture, therefore, a rich program is being prepared. It will include lectures, workshops, readings, info about prisoners, movies and so forth. We’ll also have an evening program with concerts, and there will be food and drinks.

As opposed to some established conventions, Tattoo Circus takes place in a non-competitive, non-commercial an non-hierarchical atmosphere and entrance is free for everyone.

We invite you to join, help and enrich this project. The full program will be published shortly.

Solidarity is a weapon. Until every prison is empty. For a society without prisons and repression!

Website: http://tattoocircusamsterdam.nl/

Media Terror-Frenzy

Following his arrest on the 1st of October 2014, Antonis Stamboulos is currently being held under pretrial detention facing terrorism charges.

On October 6th, with another open letter, the comrade announced hunger and thirst strike denouncing the fact that he is now being held in the prisoner transfer centre of Athens. Furthermore, he protests the ongoing media construct fueled by antiterrorism cops against him.

The terror-frenzy scenarios leaked to the Press have no end, to make it easier for the antiterrorism unit to exterminate him. The captive comrade has been portrayed, among other things, as a leading member of the Revolutionary Struggle urban guerrilla group, as co-perpetrator of a bank robbery in Kleitoria (Achaea, Greece), as alleged successor of slain comrade Lambros Foundas, while the mouthpieces of Power have spread that the wanted anarchist Pola Roupa along with her child was supposedly seen on the steps to his apartment in Kallifrona street in Kypseli (which was deemed a “safehouse”). Meanwhile, wannabe informants and other ridiculous snitches have been all too willing to testify against him (e.g. a neighbor to his parents’ house claimed he had heard explosions from the basement of their home).

The fact that the cops took him to the prisoner transfer centre – despite the prosecutor’s request for his transfer to Koridallos prison – reveals that they are attempting to send him to another, remote prison in order to exterminate not so much him as his relatives, who will be forced to travel for hours to visit him in prison, but also in order to make the work of his defense lawyer tougher than it already is.

Antonis Stamboulos stated that he will not let the scumbags of antiterrorist police and their political bosses crush his close ones. That’s why, even before they announce where they’re planning to send him, he warned that he does not accept to be taken anywhere else other than Koridallos, close to his family and lawyer.

He thus started his hunger and thirst strike on October 6th.

1 & 2 : Slogans spray-painted on October 4th by anarchists in solidarity in Denizliou Street in the district of Vyronas, exactly where the comrade was kidnapped by cops: “Solidarity with comrade A.Stamboulos” – “The fight goes on; Antonis, hold strong”.

–

Statement by anarchist Antonis Stamboulos, detained in Athens police headquarters

On October 1st, 2014, I was arrested, hooded and taken to an interrogation room of the antiterrorist unit. From 5pm until 1am, a bunch of hooded cops – and while I was handcuffed behind the back – took my DNA sample, fingerprints and (tried to take) my photographs by force, amid ironies, chokeholds, sprains and beatings, and threatened to electroshock me, thinking this would make me collaborate. At 1am, I saw unhooded cops for the first time, who told me that I am accused of terrorism. Until 5.30 in the morning, I remained in a 1×3 holding cell, always handcuffed behind my back. The next day they attempted to photograph me once again.

For my part, I abstained from food and water from the first moment, and demanded to speak with a lawyer. After 24 hours of detention, they eventually allowed me to notify a lawyer, and I managed to meet with her just for a few minutes before being brought to the prosecutor.

I share the above with fellow combatants as a small experience of struggle.

Whether or not the attitude of the State towards us is mild or harsh – this always depends on circumstances – it can never break us, so long as we are conscious of the responsibility that derives from our position as anarchists, in moments of adversity.

Hard times in the struggle are those that temper us with strong consciousness. In these circumstances, each of us upholds the ideals of the society we are fighting to build. A lot of blood has been shed in the struggle for emancipation from the classist society, and therefore only fools would expect us to bend in the face of any bullying of cops. I held a negative stance against the efforts of statist lackeys to extract my personal data for two reasons. First for the sake of my own values, as I believe every anarchist revolutionary should not give even an inch of ground to the classist enemy. And second because I was aware of the gravity of the case in which I am being implicated, so I wanted to protect my comradely and friendly environment from the crows holding me captive. While the Clouseaus were unable to find out my name, I was not at all willing to give it to them. At the time of this writing, two days after the arrest, the police have “finally” identified me.

It is clear that the officers of the antiterrorist squad and particularly their political superiors hoped to make a scoop out of my arrest, hence the leaks to the Press regarding the notebook containing “precisely-timed routes”, targets, bicycles and sausages.* They tailor their made-up story to fit their scenario; a scenario that, in the end, must always make them come out as winners.

The police and prosecutors have no business knowing what I did, who I am and why I was where I was caught; it’s really not their concern but mine. Therefore, I don’t need to offer an apologia to guardians of the bourgeois legality, but only to the revolutionary movement, the comrades and the people who choose not to live like a raya (slave).

I consider this first communication with the outside world to be necessary, since I am under no illusions that I won’t be sent to pretrial incarceration.

For now, I’m being held captive in the hands of servants of the Capital, but my heart still belongs to the camp of revolution.

The struggle continues.
Long live the revolution.
Long live Anarchy.

Antonis Stamboulos
from the PQ on 173, Alexandras Avenue
early on October 4th, 2014

* Translators’ note: While the comrade – who was arrested in the district of Vyronas, Athens – was still unidentified, the chief of police publicly claimed that one of the most striking “findings” were handwritten notes deemed code words for explosives.

The following is a report from the capitalist media. Comrades are in the process of contacting Eric and setting up support. More information will come as it becomes available.

His address at the moment is:

Eric King
27090045
CCA Leavenworth
100 Highway Terrace
Leavenworth, KS 66048
USA

Charges have been filed in the firebombing incident at Congressman Emanuel Cleaver’s office in Kansas City, September 11, 2014.

Eric G. King, a 28 year old local anarchist, was caught on surveillance tapes throwing two lit alcohol bottles into the office and running away.

Kansas City police initially identified King as a suspect because he previously had come under scrutiny during an investigation of anti-government graffiti on a local Bank of America building and the spray painting of Kansas City police vehicles, according to federal court records.

Video surveillance records showed that someone walked up to Cleaver’s office at 101 W. 31st St. at 2:52 a.m. Sept. 11 and threw a hammer through a window.

The person then threw a flaming bottle at the window, but bounced it off the building. The person threw a second bottle at the window and ran from the area.

Investigators found no fire damage on or in the building, according to court records.

When he was arrested, the police reportedly found a handwritten letter with instructions on how to start the fires, along with a confession of the crime; “The arsons committed on Sept 11, 2014 were committed solely by the KC FIGHT BACK Insurrectionist Collective.” The letter also indicates that the firebombing was done “in solidarity with Ferguson, Mo” and to “memorialize those who died in Chile under the reign of a U.S. -backed dictator and lives lost in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen.”

According to court records, King used social media to spread his anti-government, anarchist views.

Investigators also tracked Facebook postings purportedly linked to King, including one from Sept. 10 that noted action by a group called the KC Fight Back Insurrectionist Collective.

“KC Fight Back has been … serious in its insurrection activity, and that is the thing that is giving me the most pride in my life,” the post said.

An earlier post noted “these cops aren’t going to kill themselves, get to the streets.”

King will make his initial appearance in federal court on Thursday morning.

via a comrade of Anarchist Black Cross Brighton:

In the summer of 2007 following my transfer to an open jail, Castle Huntley near Dundee, after almost three decades of imprisonment, a prison-hired social worker at the jail, Matthew Stillman, submitted a report to the Parole Board in which he claimed I was linked to what he described as a “terrorist group”, specifically naming ABC, and had received visits from “terrorists” also linked to ABC. As a consequence of Stillman’s allegation I was transferred back to a maximum-security prison.

Following a campaign of protests on my behalf by ABC, which included demonstrations outside the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Prison Service H.Q. In Edinburgh, and an investigation by Perth & Kinross Council into Stillman’s allegations to the Parole Board, those allegations were exposed as lies. Whilst being interviewed by a representative from Perth and Kinross Council Stillman would claim by way of a defence that he had been encouraged by senior management staff at Castle Huntly prison to use the term or description “terrorist” when describing ABC in the parole report. Stillman faced no disciplinary proceedings following the exposure of his lies and was simply moved to another social work council.

It would be several years before the prison authorities would resurrect it’s lies regarding the “terrorist” or “criminal” nature of ABC in an attempt yet again to prevent my release, and once again prison-hired “professionals”, this time psychologists, would be used to present the lies as impartial and unprejudiced fact.

On the 9th June the psychology dept at Shotts Prison in Lanarkshire carried out an assessment of my case, ostensibly to decide my “level of risk” in terms of danger to the community, and my suitability, or not, for a return to an open prison. On page 21 of their subsequent “Psychological Assessment Report” they wrote the following:

“Mr Bowden holds value in communicating his political ideals and advocating change. He has also used radical websites to identify Criminal Justice system professionals (the allusion to Stillman is obvious) that he alleges have abused their positions of authority. While he cites this to be a feature of his views on authority in general and therefore feels entitled to express his views and thoughts, this is an area that should be further monitored by the relevant authority supervising him. Mr Bowden has stated his intent to distance himself from criminal associates, yet considers the Anarchist Black Cross groups, to whom he is linked, to be non-criminal in their approach. At the time of writing, there was no information available from the police to confirm this. It should be noted however, that in 1992 he had associates that facilitated his escape to Holland. His associations should therefore be monitored in conjunction with the police. It will also be useful to liaise with the police if concerns emerged in the future about the approach of Anarchist Black Cross groups being criminal in their intent”.

Firstly, ABC members played absolutely no role or part in my escape to Holland in 1992 and there is no evidence whatsoever to suggest they did, and secondly, following Stillman’s lies regarding the ABC in 2007, Perth and Kinross Council asked the police to provide an opinion of ABC and were informed it was a “radical group” with “potential public order risks” but definitely not “terrorist” in nature or unlawful in political orientation. Once again the prison authorities here in Scotland are attempting to criminalise ABC and punish prisoners linked to it.

I would ask ABC members therefore both in solidarity with me and as a protest against their criminalisation by a serial human rights abuser like the prison system, to e-mail and send letters of complaint to the following:

Jim Kerr
Governor
HMP Shotts
Cantrell Road
Shotts
Lanarkshire
ML7 4LE

Scottish Prisoner Service H.Q.
Calton House
5 Redheughs Rigg
Edinburgh
EH12 9HW

The Justice Minister
Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 ISP

Please send letters of support to:

John Bowden
6729
HMP Shotts
Cantrell Road
Shotts
Lanarkshire
ML7 4LE

from refractario via waronsociety:

This Friday, July 4, a ruling was made public which confirmed that Mónica Caballero and Francisco Solar will be prosecuted for terrorism. From the judge, the cops, and the press, which are working hand in hand in this case, came the assertion that they “are linked to the FAI/FRI, an international terrorist organization ‘created from insurrectionary anarchist ideology’”.

Clearly the use of these acronyms, despite having nothing to do with the claim of the attack they are accused of, is being used to justify their prosecution as terrorists, as the EU has already identified these acronyms within their list of terrorist organizations. As always according to the press and the police-judicial frame-up “inside of this organization [FAI/FRI] both allegedly belong to the so called Coordinated Anarchist Groups (GAC).” The press, which in some cases includes the “alternative” press, has not stopped connecting this coordinating group with the FAI/FRI despite the fact that this is nothing more than a police fantasy. “A superstructure of independent violent groups in the style of islamist jihad” affirmed the periodical Aragón, in case they were missing adjectives.

The rest of the compas being prosecuted for the same case have been acquitted. Mónica and Francisco are well despite what the press presents as something novel, everyone knew that the terrorist accusation would be coming forward. The situation is the same and basically what is significant is that the judge of instruction Velasco accepted the police hypotheses as valid enough to prosecute them.

We also know that the imprisoned compas were excited to hear that the rest of those charged are now free of the case.

We send a warm embrace and courage to Mónica and Cariñoso.

Solidarity is stronger than their bars!

To write them:

Mónica Andrea Caballero Sepúlveda
Ávila-Prisión Provincial
Ctra. de Vicolozano s/n Apdo. 206
05194 Brieva (Ávila)
ESPANYA

Francisco Javier Solar Domínguez
C.P. de Villabona Finca Tabladiello
33480 Villabona-Llanera (Asturias)
ESPANYA

Summary of arrests and trials since the demo in Nantes, February 22nd, according to information found by the anti-repression committee (CARILA)

February 22nd: 14 arrests, two released without charge. Of the 12 people charged, 5 had immediate trials the next day, and the 7 others will have trials later (3 on June 19th, 2 minors in children’s court, and no news for the 2 others).

February 24th: 5 immediate trials, 4 of them judged for “violence against someone with public authority”, and “participating in an armed group”. They were all convicted.
 100 hours of community service
 5 months suspended sentence
 5 months of prison
 5 months of prison and 1 month probation
 6 months of prison and 6 months of probation + 500 euros for the undercover cops supposedly injured

Of all those convicted this day, no one went directly to prison. This means that they can negotiate a lighter sentence.

March 31st: First wave of arrests after the demo: 9 people were arrested at home (in Carquefou, St. Herblain, Nantes, and Ille-et-Vilaine).

 2 were released without charges
 4 were judged the next day in immediate trials
 2 minors: one accused of throwing fireworks at the police judged in juvenile court, placed under house arrest until their trial in 2015, the other we don’t think they were charged but we have no confirmation
 1 person had a trial later but we don’t have contact with them

April 1st: Immediate trials for those arrested the day before

 P: 4 months suspended sentence, forbidden to carry weapons for a year, forbidden to protest in Notre Dame des Landes and Nantes for a year
 J: 5 months of prison, forbidden to carry weapons for 2 years, forbidden to protest in Nantes for 2 years
 G: 2 months suspended sentence + 2 months prison (suspended sentence from last arrest), aquitted for vandalism
 E: 1 year of prison, starting immediately after the trial, forbidden to protest for 3 years, forbidden to have explosives or flammable materials for 3 years. The judge doubled the sentence that the DA asked for!

May 14th: G arrested in Paris under a warrant for vandalism February 22nd. He refused an immediate trial, fuzzy photos were the only evidence. He was placed in preventative detention, but got out a month later because of a procedural error. His trial is July 16th.

May 27th: R. arrested in the street in Rennes by undercover cops, transferred to Nantes. He refused immediate trial, and was put under house arrest, and forbidden from the Loire-Atlantique region until his trial, June 19th.

June 13th: Additional trial for someone convicted February 24th to decide how much they should pay in damages to the undercover cops. No information on the verdict for the moment.

June 18th:
 O. arrested at home in Rennes, accused of vandalism, he has an immediate trial the next day.
 Someone from the ZAD arrested in Nantes, who had a warrant out for violence against the police and participating in an armed group.

June 19th:
 Trial for 3 people arrested during the demo -K: convicted of throwing paving stones towards the police and arrested in possession of a hammer and an iron bar, 4 months suspended sentence, 18 months probation (forced to find a job or go to vocational school, and forbidden to carry weapons) + 105 hours of community service -C: convicted of participation in an armed group and throwing a beer can at the police, sentenced to 2 months suspended sentence -G: arrested in possession of a hammer, sentenced to 1 month suspended sentence
 Hearing for O. (arrested in Rennes the day before): he refuses his trial and is put under house arrest until his trial, July 10th
 Trial of R. (arrested in Rennes, May 27) for vandalism and participating in an armed group. Sentenced to 8 months suspended sentence + 1 month suspended sentence + 5218 euros in damages for the city of Nantes+ forbidden from Loire-Atlantique region for 2 years.
 Hearing for 5 people arrested 2 days before by undercover cops while driving: -one person (a hitch-hiker) accepted the immediate trial, convicted to possession of 1 gram of hash + refusing fingerprints and DNA. No sentence 3 people refused immediate trials and are put under house arrest until their trial, July 18th 1 person refused an immediate trial and is in prison awaiting trial (July 18th)

“They were arrested tuesday after a “random” identity control by undercover cops on the ring road in Nantes. Amoung them was R., who had a trial Thursday and was on their way to Nantes to see their lawyer with their friends. After 48 hours of police custody, 4 of them were charged with “possession of stolen goods”, suspected of having stolen… a head lamp. Also they refused to give fingerprints and DNA. More seriously, they are accused, based on some flyers in their car and a toolbox, of “association of wrong-doers”, and “intent to commit an armed assembly in front of the courthouse in Nantes”. They risk up to 5 years in prison.”

June 20th: Hearing for S., who lives on the ZAD. He was arrested 2 days before in Orvault, accused of having stolen 2 books. He had a warrant out for participating in the February 22nd demo. He is accused of theft (with prior convictions), refusing fingerprints and DNA (with prior convictions), and participating with a weapon in an armed group, and violence against the police. He refused an immediate trial and has been put in jail awaiting his trial on July 7th.

2 people are currently in preventative detention, awaiting trial.

From: 325

On 13th June 13 2012, among the many police operations against anarchists, the Italian government launched a repressive attack called ‘Operation Ardire’ on a dozen comrades. There were 40 raids, 24 people under investigation and 8 comrades sent to jail. In this case they tried to give a wider form to the operation, by accusing comrades imprisoned in different European countries such as Greece, Switzerland and Germany.

As usual, the State showed its authoritarian face against its sworn enemies, and fabricated roles of leaders, agents and organizers within yet another ‘terrorist association’, when in fact there were affinities, letter exchanges with prisoners, struggles and claims.

So it happened that Gabriel Pombo da Silva and Marco Camenisch, imprisoned for many years, ended up in this investigation following an international hunger strike carried out in December 2009; they were named as ‘symbols and points of reference of a new subversive project’ of which they would be ‘ideologists and supporters.’

After 20 years spent in Spanish cages (of which 14 in the FIES isolation regime) from where he escaped, Gabriel was arrested in Germany in 2004 after a police check and a shoot out. He spent 9 years in German jails. Extradited to Spain on 25th February 2013 with an European warrant of arrest issued by Spain ten years ago so that he completed his sentence, Gabriel was summoned two months later by the Audiencia Nacional, this time to be notified an European warrant of arrest issued by Italy against him in March following ‘Operation Ardire’!

Of course Gabriel refused to be voluntarily transferred to Italy. Since it never renounced the ‘principle of exception’, as stated by their ferocious laws, the Spanish anti-terrorism justice made appeal against extradition in Italy in January 2014, following the example of its German counterpart.

On 17th January, within the line of investigation of ‘Operation Ardire’ run in Perugia, inquisitor Comodi [the nun] requested not to prosecute the charges of ‘subversive association’; whereas within the line of investigation of the same operation that had been transferred to Milan, on 8th April a judge lifted all restrictive measures (reporting to the police station, mandatory residence, etc.) against the comrades. After a prosecuting circus that denied some comrades of a year of life, the same judge lifted the Italian-European warrant of arrest against Gabriel on 18th April.

Apart from all these terrorism-related vicissitudes set up by European states and their servants, Gabriel continues to be detained in FIES regime in the prison of A Lama (Galicia), where he was transferred in August 2013.

His mail (incoming and outgoing letters) is still subjected to the caprices of the jailers and his movements are also subjected to restrictions. Finally, with regard to the date Gabriel should be released, the justice and the prison administration continue to play their miserable games of slow torture and continually change their calculations of torturers. At the moment the date is set for… 2023.

All these measures are actually threats against those who rebel. It is special harassment against one of our comrades (‘more and more dangerous’, as they say, a comrade who spent 29 years behind bars that never changed him), but also ordinary punishment against those who don’t submit. This happens because they want emptied heads, shut mouths and closed eyes, inside as well as outside prison. Unless…

Down with all the States, prisons, police and courts; freedom for all!

Anarchists in solidarity
18th May 2014

–

If you want to write to Gabriel, even if he can’t reply, you’d better do it by registered mail so that letters don’t get lost or put on record (texts, pamphlets and books are not delivered by mail):

Gabriel Pombo Da Silva
CP A-Lama (Pontevedra)
Monte Racelo s / ​​n 36830 A-Lama (Pontevedra)
Spain

We continue to publish news about repressions against anarchists, antifascists and social activists and about the obstacles we face from the side of police state. In February, March and April issue you can read about Maidan ghost, letters from the prisons and senseless trials. If you recognize that we’ve missed anything or you are informed about other cases of repressions, let us know by writing to address abc-msk <> riseup.net.

For costs of all the listed cases, besides indicated internet purses, you may donate money via ABC-Moscow. Check:

http://wiki.avtonom.org/en/index.php/Donate for guidelines.

Arrest of the Belorussian activist

Dmitry Rezanovich was detained at the Russian-Ukrainian border with the passport to the name of his sibling in the middle of March. He didn’t have any papers that could prove his identity. After detaining the anarchist clarified that he went from Ukraine to Kursk region to visit his relatives.

He has been sentenced to administrative deportation out of the Russian Federation according to the violation of the regime of residence. We hope that there won’t be the initiation of criminal proceeding. Russian authorities claimed earlier he was suspected in participation in EuroMaidan and preparing a terrorist attack against the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. Solidarity actions took place in Kyiv, Moscow and Lviv.

Solidarity group in VK: – https://vk.com/svobodaanarhist

You may via Yandex Money  – 41001188576819, WEB MONEY -R272103511250

To write a letter use the address: abc-msk <> riseup.net, in subject field “For Rezanovich”, we’ll send all your letters to Dmitry.

The trial of anarchists in Irkutsk

On the 13th of March, antifascists had been sentenced to a fine of 20 000 rubles (approximately 400 euros) from each for hanging a banner in the memory of Stanislav Markelov and Anastasiya Baburova from the roof of the building.

In the role of witnesses were 2 cops and 1 nazi. It is being planned to appeal the decision in the higher court. On the 18th of March at the pro-Putin event anarchists handed out the leaflets about the Crimean situation. They were detained, searched and released after a written explanation. .

Arrest of Alexey Sutuga

On the 5th of April Moscow anarchist and antifascist Alexey Sutuga was detained. He was going back with friends from the show in the club Rock House, when several plain clothes police officers approached to them near “Izmaylovskaya” metro station, they said they are the criminal investigators from Petrovka, 38. At least 10 antifascist were detained with Sutuga together.

All of detainees except Sutuga were searched and released from the Izmaylovo police station without filing a report .

In the police record had been written that Sutuga, from their words, used foul language in the public place. In relation to Sutuga the report was made according to the article 20.1 of the Code of Administrative Crimes (minor hooliganism).

Sutuga managed to tell his friends that on the way to DIA he was asked in details about his recent visits to Ukraine, there are similar cases with other political activists.

On the 7 th of April it became known that Sutuga is charged in the criminal offense (“hooliganism with a group of people”), to be exact, the fight with Nazis on the 2nd of January 2014. Alexey himself says that in the evening of the 2 nd of January he tried to intervene streetfighting between two groups of people he did not know in prior. Earlier Sutuga was accused of the fight in the club “Vozdukh” however was granted the amnesty.

Sutuga is currently held in Butyrka prison of Moscow, his prison address is

Alexey Sutuga

FKU SIZO-2 UFSIN Rossii po g. Moskve,

ul. Novoslodskaya d. 45 127055 Moscow Russia

But please note that Butyrka prison does not allow letters in English, so you may send just a card or translate your letter with google translation.

Beating of the activists in Petrozavodsk

On the 8th of March another picket against the war in Ukraine picket was planned to be organised in Petrozavodsk. The day before, the organizers were attacked by the over a dozen people in masks while they were getting off the bus. At the day of the picket the activists cooked the food for “Food not Bombs”. When they were going out of the house, they were attacked by strangers. Anarchists were violently put in the cars without registration numbers and brought to the rural area. They were beaten up with whips and the power saw chain; as the result anarchists have broken teeth and one person has the trauma of the spine. Victims appealed to the prosecutor’s office (http://avtonom.org/news/v-petrozavodske-lyudi-v-maskah-pohitili-i-zhesto…).

In the forest the anarchists were demanded to assume that they are in the organization and name their allies. According to the victims, they were interrogated by the Center of counteraction against extremism (E-Center).

Counteraction to «extremism»

On the 15th of March, people fromFederal Security Services interrogated the dweller of Ivanovo, Elizaveta Lisitsina. Before she made the repost from Anarho-News page in VK.com (Russian equivalent of the Facebook). The criminal process was initiated according to the article 280 “public inciting to extremist activity“. It’s known that she was forced to self-incrimination however Elizaveta used the article 51 of the RF Constitution “Everyone has the right not to incriminate oneself”.

The modem, tablet, MP3 player and laptops were taken away from Lisitsina, her boyfriend and the neighbor. Now the technical expertise is being held. All of these people are in the status of witnesses. The day before the linguistic analysis took place and the marks of extremism had been found. Lisitsina is an active participant of the local scene, she helped to organize movie screenings and pickets dedicated to “Bolotnoe case”

Solidarity group in “Vkontakte”: http://vk.com/club68247029

To transfer the money for lawyers : Yandex Money – 410011189766242

Several issues of “Avtonom” have been put to the Federal list of extremist materials – № 29, 32 and 33. These issues were recognized as extremist in December of the last year but for several months they were not put in the list. It is recommended to have only one copy of this magazine and to distribute very carefully in Russia because otherwise you may be charged with misdemeanor of “distribution of extremist materials”. Prohibition of these 3 issues don’t have any affect to other issues of “Avtonom” , all of them are absolutely legal and available in book shops and local distros.

Criminal prosecution

Several of our comrades are still under investigation according to fake charges and part of them are imprisoned in pretrial detention center. Alexey Gaskarov is charged in “Bolotnaya Square case”, he has been accused in participation in “mass riots” and violation against public authority. Alexey is accused in pulling the arm of a conscripted soldier and the leg of the riot policemen.

According to Alexey’s words, he actually tried to pull out that riot policemen but pull him out of the lying on the ground protester who was being beaten by the riot policemen with the baton. And that’s all.

In February Alexey wrote two articles for “Svoboda” radio, they are: about criminal responsibility for mass riots in different countries and about relations between Ukraine and Russia due to the annexation of the Crimea.

On the 14th of April in the Zamoskvoretsky district trial the preliminary hearing on “The case of four” are assigned; except Alexey, Ilya Gushchin, Elena Kokhtareva and Alexandr Margolin are charged. Hearing will be held behind the closed doors at 14.00. They are the last accused in “The Bolotnaya Square Case”, whose cases have still not been started considering by the court. Natalia Susina will be the judge, previously she amnestied Dmitry Altaychinov who was charged in “The Bolotnaya Square Case”.

To transfer the money for the lawyers for Alexey and other political prisoners: Yandex Money – 410011867897149

To write the letter to Alexey:

Alexey Vladimirovich Gaskarov FKU SIZO-2 UFSIN Rossii po g. Moskve, ul. Novoslodskaya d. 45 127055 Moscow Russia

FKU SIZO-2 UFSIN Rossii po g. Moskve ul. Novoslobodskaya d. 45 127055 Moskva Russia
The website of support: http://en.gaskarov.info/
Alexey Raskhodchikov

Alexey was convicted for violation towards public authority that was dangerous for life and the health (part 2 of the article 318 of the Criminal Codex). This anarchist from Murmansk started the public correspondence, despite the delay of the letters, for instance, the letter signed as of February 28 but the date on the departure stamp was March 24 . In particular, Alexey asked not to call him “the prisoner of conscience” and here is his opinion about parole .

On the February 11, 2014 Raskhodchikov was sentenced to a year in penal colony. On the April 2, Murmansk region court considered the appeal however the sentence hadn’t been changed. As the result of the investigation, Regional youth council on human rights of Murmansk region found out the evidence that the man was brought to the police with the trauma of the head. Earlier the inquire officer refused the initiation of a criminal case towards duty officers, explaining that they are not responsible for the harm caused during the arrest.

From February 20 till March 10, in Arkhangelsk, Apatity, Vologda, Saint Petersburg, Petrozavodsk and Prague there were actions during a week of solidarity for Kraskhodchikov. More information about Alexey and his case you can read on the supportive group website

http://raskhodchikov.info

Yandex Money for lawyers and other needs – 410011959939084

Address to write a letter to Alexey: 184355, Murmansk region, Kolsky district, village Murmashi, Zelenaya str., 14 “a”, IK №16 for Raskhodchikov Alexey Valerievich
Note that we do not know yet if letters in English are accepted in this prison colony, so it is better to translate your letters with a google translator or pass them for support group to be translated: raskhodchikov.info <> gmail <> com

«The case of 12»

Convicted in the first wave of “Bolotnaya Square process” Stepan Zimin and Alexey Polikhovich are sentenced to 3,5 years of prison. In his letters Polikhovich says that the prison is a great place for self-education. When trials finished there are much time left for reading – Eric Berne, Slavoj Zizek and Logos magazine.

Zimin writes in his letter about prisoner’s dilemma: “If nobody talks, the police will accuse both with a minor crime only. Both people will be in the best position if they keep silence, however each will benefit more in case he is the only one who talks. Decency protects you from unnecessary troubles. Thirst of revenge prevents the opposing side from betrayal. Forgiveness helps to restore mutual cooperation. And clarity makes it possible for the opponent to understand, which provides the long term cooperation.”
Addresses for Zimin and Polikhovich_

Alexey Alexeevich Polikhovich, 1990 g.r. FKU SIZO-2 UFSIN Rossii po g. Moskve ul. Novoslobodskaya d. 45 127055 Moskva Russia
Stepan Yurevich Zimin 1992 g.r., FKU SIZO-5 (Vodnik) UFSIN Rossii po g. Moskve, Vyborskaya 20, 125130 Moskva Russia
Note that as prisoners are waiting for appeal and transfer in a remand prison where correspondence in English is not allowed, please just send postcards or translate your letters with google translation.

Iliya Romanov

Recently Iliya, who was earlier sentenced in Ukraine, has written his opinion about Maidan consequences: “The only right tactic is an active interference in any events. Instead of it, the tactic was “we won’t do anything, just will be staying at home, reading Marx and will believe in our unavoidable victory.”

Yandex Money for Iliya’s lawyer – 410012031648898

Address to write a letter to Iliya: Russia 603098, N.Novgorod, Gagarina Av., 26 “A”, СИЗО-1, Romanov Iliya Eduardovich, year of birth 1967

Note that as Ilya is in a remand prison where correspondence in English is not allowed, please just send postcards or translate your letters with google translation.

Prepared by ABC-Moscow collective

P.S. To find out about prosecutions in Belorussia read website of ABC-Belorussia (http://abc-belarus.org)

(might be blocked by some providers in Russia and Belarus, use Proxy and Tor). The collective has recently prepared the news review from prisons (http://abc-belarus.org/?p=4420#more-4420).

Several hours left before the official start of the World Hockey Championship 2014 in Belarus. Event that was planned in 2009 during another political thaw between the West and Lukashenko was constantly criticized by human rights and political organizations for support of Lukashenko’s political regime. Many groups called national hockey teams to boycott the championship, however International Federation of Ice Hockey decided once again that sport is standing apart from politics and retained the right for hosting championship in Minsk. But it is impossible to keep sport business away from politics. For Lukashenko this championship is a unique way to legitimize Belarusian political system on behalf of tournament participants. On the one hand, we see harsh critics of the regime from the West, on the other hand, Minsk today is full of national flags of teams participating in the show. In this atmosphere the political tensions seem to be gone and everyone is going to enjoy the truce.

At the time when players of national teams will be ice skating and monkeying around in ice palaces build for this one-time event, and tourists, the ones that will dare to come to Belarus, will be spending their money to recover Belarusian economy, Belarusian police and KGB will increase repressions of any Lukashenko’s political opponents. Nowadays dozens of activists ended up in jail based on false minor cases.

Anarchists are not an exception in the wave of repression. 6 anarchists already serve from 15 to 25 days in jail for minor offenses, 4 antifascist hooligans were detained for 10 days. Many activists last days are under constant pressure: police is calling and visiting them at home trying to get those people for informal interrogation. Some people were arrested in the middle of the day, kidnapped by unknown people in civil and pushed in the car, the same manner as it was happening at the times of blooming KGB terror in the Soviet era. Last week at least 25 cases were reported to ABC-Belarus connected with described methods. It is unknown, how many people right now are targeted by the police. But we can say for sure, that they are over hundred – those are the people connected with anarchist and antifascist movement known to the police from different sources. Right now we get reports about the pressure from Minsk and Brest, but it is quite obvious that the scale of repressions is covering the whole country.

During these conversations police is asking people about their place of work, membership in organizations, participation in political movements, participation in football hooligans groups, affiliations to the anarchist movement, their interests and hobbies. Also police is interested in circles of friends, their places of living and work, phone numbers, plans of activists for the championship and their accounts in social networks. The context of these conversations become known to us from people who unfortunately didn’t manage to avoid these informal interrogations by the police.
All in all it is expected that more people will get arrested by the police and sentenced to jail terms. This is the tactics of the Belarusian police to avoid any protests or political activities during the hockey championship. It is already quite clear that so-called apolitical sport event became another trigger for political repressions inside of Belarus.

From now on, we are going to publish summaries of repressions against anarchists, antifascists and social activists in Russia on a regular basis, as well as on how the state opposes our activity. In the January-February issue: sudden amnesty of antifascists in Moscow, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, attempt to ban “Avtonom” zine due to “extremism”, detentions during Jan19 actions, verdicts in Moscow, Murmansk, Petersburg and other “heroic deeds” of cops from “E”-department. If you think that we have missed something in our article, or you know about other cases of repressions, please write to [email protected] On donations for ABC-Moscow check guidelines from here: http://wiki.avtonom.org/en/index.php/Donate

Verdicts for eight “Bolotnoe Case” defendants

On February 24th, Zamoskvoretsky Court delivered verdicts for eight defendants, accused according to “Bolotnoe Case”. The judge, Natalia Nikishina, found eight people guilty in participating in so-called “rioting” on May 6th 2012 at the Bolotnaya square in Moscow and violence against policemen. There were our comrades among the convicted: Alexey Polikhovich (sentenced to 3.5 years in prison colony), Stepan Zimin (sentenced to 3.5 years in prison colony), and Alexandra Dukhanina — she was the only one who got suspended sentence, 3 years and 3 months.

Verdict for Alexey Raskhodchikov

On February 11th, court in Murmansk sentenced anarchist and activist Alexey Raskhodchikov to 1 year in prison colony. He was accused in violence, dangerous for life and health against the official (Part 2, of Criminal Code 318 article). The case against Raskhodchikov has been roughly framed up by local policemen, after they had beaten activist in Summer 2013 during unlawful detention. Details on the sentence and Raskhodchikov’s case. Weeks of actions in solidarity with Alexey Raskhodchikov were organized from February 20th till March 10. You can get information on solidarity actions at the Alexei’s support website: http://raskhodchikov.info
Yandex wallet for raising money for paying up his lawyer and other expenses: 410011959939084

You may send letters for Alexey using the following address: 84355,
Murmanskaya oblast, kolskiy raion, p. Murmashi, ul. Zelenaya, 14 “a”. IK N16
for Alexey Valerevich Raskhodchikov.

Note that we do not know yet if letters in English are accepted in this prison colony, so it is better to translate your letters with a google translator or pass them for support group to be translated: raskhodchikov.info <> gmail <> com

Cases against “extremism”

In the November, court of Tyumen suddenly decided to declare three old issues of Avtonom magazine (29, 32, and 33) as “extremist”. According to attorney office, some articles of the magazine allegedly advocate terrorism, and call to violence against Nazi and policemen. More details on an insane expert evaluation made by cop-friendly linguists and ban of three issues.

Nevertheless, theses magazine issues have not been included into the federal list of extremist materials yet. Tyuman court decision would be challenged, possibly.

Ban of three particular issues does not affect other other issues of “Avtonom” — they are absolutely legal. A new issue was published recently, do not miss it!

Detentions after actions

Our comrades were detained after January-19 actions in Irkutsk and Petersburg. In Irkutsk two activists were detained after dropping an antifascist banner from a building. They had spent a day and night in a detention room, after that a court justified them. Story from activists is published here.

In Saint Petersburg, anarchists blocked the traffic on Vasilievsky Ostrov and marched with banners and chants on January 19th. After the actions, policemen detained several activists, they were released later with offence reports filed.

In Petersburg, on February 22, activists supporting Ukraine uprising were detained, while burning tyres in front of Spas-na-Krovi Cathedral in the city centre. After two days, court justified two of detained, who were under an accusation of disorderly conduct (art. 20.1 of Administrative Code), and the court hearing related to unauthorized rally was rescheduled to an indefinite date.

Amnesty for “hooligans”

In December, State Duma (Russian Parliament) declared amnesty for prisoners and accused, as a “handsome gesture” of “generous” State, it turned out to be a usual fraud and nothing. However, some had a luck: to escape of the worldwide shame, a special point for jailed Greenpeace environmentalists has been included into amnesty statement. First, environmentalists were accused of “piracy”, later the accusation has been changed to “hooliganism”. Amnesty applies to all accused in such crime — by a fluke, it was announced in the time, when some of our comrades were judged with fake “hooliganism” charges.

As a result, in Moscow, people with hooliganism charges, related with a fight in “Vozdukh” club — Alexey Sutuga, Alexey Olesinov, Babken Gukasyan and Alen Volikov have been amnestied.

In Nizhny Novgorod, Pavel Krivonosov, Oleg Gembaruk, and Dmitry Kolesov, who were accused in participation in an extremist group “Antifa-RASH”, fabricated by “E”-department officers, have been amnestied. Unfortunately, another two activists—Albert Gainutdinov and Artem Bystrov—who succeeded in escaping, have not been amnestied.

Details on amnesty and the “Antifa-RASH” case

In Kazan, Ruslan Rostov, Oleg Kapustyanov, Artem Sher, and Dmitry Ilichev, who were detained in April 2013 and accused of attacking local Nazis (who actively helped the investigation with their false witness), were amnestied.

In Moscow, people accused of attacking gigs of right-wing “Russkii Styag” and OHS bands—Irina Lipskaya, Andrey Molchanov, Alexander Chuprov, Andrey Gerasimov, and Amil Eminov— have been amnestied.

Current criminal prosecution

Series of our comrades are still under investigation on fake charges, some of them are jailed in pretrial custody.

Alexey Gaskarov is charged, as part of “Bolotnoe case”, with “participation in riots” and violence against official — Alexey is accused of pulling a hand of a conscript soldier and a leg of a riot police officer. According Alexey, he really tried to pull that riot policeman away from a demonstrator lying on the ground, who was being clubbed by that policeman. That is all his “crime”.

You can send funds for paying up lawyers (of Alexey and other political prisoners) to the following Yandex.Money wallet: 410011867897149

Web-site in support of Alexey: http://gaskarov.info.

Ilya Romanov, since the end of 80-es, who has been actively participating in anarchist movement, was injured on October 26th 2013 near the Nizhny Novgorod district military registration and enlistment office. As a result of detonation, that happened in the late night, his left hand was severely injured, and face has been burned, he was sent to hospital, where doctors have amputated his hand. Romanov has been interrogated as suspect, and has given statement that a pyrotechnic device activated in his hand.

In December 2013, Romanov was accused of possessing explosives (Criminal Code article 222), and, additionally, in a terrorist act attempt(Criminal Code article 205, 30). There is no ground to accuse Romanov of terrorism, as there is no corpus delicti. Recently Ilia was included into the List of terrorists and extremists of Russian Financial Monitoring Agency, under the number 1935. He is currently jailed in a pretrial custody.

You may transfer money to his wife Larisa for paying up Ilia’s lawyer:
Yandex.Money 410012031648898

You may write to Ilya:
Romanov Ilya Eduardovich 1967 g.r.
SIZO-1, pr. Gagarina 26 “A”
603098 N. Novgorod Russia

Note that Russian pre-trial detention facilities do not accept letters in other languages than Russian, so please translate your letter for example with google translation in prior to sending.

Prepared by ABC-Moscow collective

On repressions in Belarus you can read at ABC-Belarus web-site http://abc-belarus.org/ (it is blocked by some ISP’s, use proxies or TOR-Browser)