Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO“You feel that you are not alone in this hardship.” Yabloko regional branches held actions of writing letters to political prisoners

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“You feel that you are not alone in this hardship.” Yabloko regional branches held actions of writing letters to political prisoners

Press Release, 1.12.2022

Photo: The action in Chelyabinsk / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

Actions in support of political prisoners were held in the regional offices of the Yabloko party past week. Hundreds of letters and postcards with words of support so needed by people deprived of their freedom are sent to their recipients across the country.

Many political prisoners write in their response letters that Yabloko and civil activists are doing very important work.

“I had to go through a lot of difficult moments during this time and I don’t know how I would have coped without your support! I received over a hundred letters (postcards, photographs, and drawings) with words of support and good wishes from different cities of Russia, as well as neighbouring countries!” Yabloko activists in Tatarstan cite the words from the response letter of political prisoner Andrey Boyarshinov.

Photo: The action in Kazan / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

Activists of the Novgorod branch of Yabloko focused this time on letters to women political prisoners, because the action took place on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Photo: The action in Novgorod / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

“Women and men participating in the action expressed their solidarity with women who are imprisoned for their anti-war stance, for their and our freedom, for the rights of people to independently decide the fate of their land and their people. We support and heartily embrace: Olga Smirnova, Alexandra Skochilenko and Victoria Petrova from St. Petersburg, Lilia Chanysheva from Ufa, Zarifa Sautieva from Ingushetia, Zarema Musaeva, Natalia Filonova from Ulan-Ude,” the leader of the Novgorod Yabloko Anna Cherepanova writes.

Members of the Saratov regional Yabloko branch, Yabloko supporters and civil activists in Saratov signed over 90 postcards that will be sent to 37 recipients. Among the recipients are Vladimir Kara-Murza, Sergei Ryzhov, Alexei Navalny, Ilya Yashin and many other political prisoners. In the coming days, letters will be sent even to the most remote regions of our country.

Photo: The action in Saratov / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

“Some people come more often, some less often, but everyone understands the importance of this action. We receive answers to our letters and understand that the support is mutual: it is important for people on the other side to know that they are not forgotten and that the rule of law, human rights and humanism are not mere words for many. It is important for us, who are out of prison, that those convicted for the truth hold on and do not betray themselves. Besides, we understand that we are writing to very good, brave and honest people whom we meet in life, albeit in unfortunate circumstances,” Natalia Chubykina, Chair of the Novosibirsk regional branch of the party says.

Photo: The action in Novosibirsk / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

The Chelyabinsk regional branch of Yabloko published in its Telegram channel excerpts from the response letters of political prisoners to a permanent participant in Yabloko. One of them notes that this was “the first news from outside prison”.

The action, which Yabloko’s regional offices traditionally organise on the last Friday of the month, will take place in December earlier, so that greeting cards reach their recipients before the New Year holidays.

Photo: The action in Rostov-on-Don / Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

In Moscow, one can sign a postcard or leave a letter to political prisoners in the lobby of the Yabloko office at the address: Moscow, Pyatnitskaya 31, building 2, on weekdays from 10:00 to 18:00.

One can send a letter independently with the help of our instructions (https://www.yabloko.ru/pisma-politzekam ).