Freedom News

Russia: two anarchists sentenced to prison for a banner drop

On 10th September, the Central District Court of Chelyabinsk, Russia, announced the verdict in the case of two anarchists, Anastasia Safonova and Dmitry Tsibukovsky, accused of a banner drop. The two were found guilty under the article on hooliganism (part 2 of article 213 of the Criminal Code). Safonova was sentenced to two, Tsibukovsky –

Russia: two anarchists facing six years in prison for a banner drop

Two young anarchists, Dmitry Tsibukovsky and Anastasia Safonova, are facing six years in prison for (allegedely) hanging a banner in solidarity with the defendants in the “Network” case.   According to the Russian authorities and noone else, The “Network” was a terrorist anarchist organization active in Russia between 2015 and 2017. Its alleged members were

Russia: antifascist prisoner Viktor Filinkov moved to basement cell for “sitting on his bed”

Viktor Filinkov, an antifascist political prisoner serving 7-year sentence has been moved to a basement cell, apparently as a punishment for sitting on his bed during day time. Filinkov was one of the defentants in “The Network” case. According to the Russian state authorities, “the Network” was  an “anarchist terrorist community” set up in May

“Now and then the flame dies down, but solidarity is a stream of sparks”: interview with antifascist political prisoner Ilya Shakursky

Ilya Shakursky, an antifascist political prisoner in Russia, appeals to you in this interview to write to him, and to others imprisoned in the infamous “Network” case. Please see a note at the end about where to send messages. Tomorrow, Tuesday 19 January, is the anniversary of the assassination of antifascists Anastasia Baburova and Stanislav

London demo callout: solidarity with jailed Russian anti-fascists

A new group intending to provide solidarity with persecuted Russian antifascists and anarchists was formed in London last week. They are organising their first event this Thursday at 6.30pm at the Russian Ambassy in London. Here is the demo callout. This month seven Russian anti-fascists were jailed with lengthy sentences ranging from six to eighteen

Russia: thousands sign open letter in solidarity with imprisoned anarchists

On February 10th, seven Russian anarchists accused of participation in “the Network” group were sentenced for terrorist offences to a total of 86 years imprisonment. Freedom News covered the details of the case and the accusations here. The sentences were harsh. Dmitry Pchelintsev received 18 years, Ilya Shakursky 16 years, Arman Sagynbaev 6 years, Andrei

Russia: prosecutor demands prison sentences of 6 to 18 years for anarchist defendants in “Network” case

The prosecutor in charge of the so-called “Network” aka Penza/St Petersburgh case demanded on 26th December prison time between 6 and 18 years for seven defendants. If convicted, all but two will serve their sentences in a high-security prison colony. The Network case had begun in October 2017, when the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB)

Russia: “The Network” trial begins

Amid presence the courtroom of riot police, regular police, court bailiffs and supporters, the trial in the case of the Network begun in St. Petersburg on Tuesday, with a 24-year old programmer Viktor Filinkov and a 27-year- old Yuli Bayarshinov charged with involvement in the “anarchist terrorist community”. Filinkov and Bayarshinov are on trial by