Press Release, 27.03.2026

Photo: Participants in the action of writing letters to political prisoners, 26 March 2026 / Photo by Moscow Yabloko

Opening the event, Yabloko party Chairman Nikolai Rybakov spoke about the importance of supporting political prisoners. It is not enough simply to write the first letter — one must also reply to those that follow, the Yabloko leader noted: every message from behind bars is an occasion for dialogue, and that dialogue is demonstrates genuine support and a vital connection with the outside world for prisoners of conscience.

Federal Bureau member Andrei Morev reported that at the 26 March event, participants wrote to religious believers among the political prisoners and drew attention to a serious problem: not all letters from prisoners were reaching Yabloko. In particular, the majority of letters written by Yabloko Deputy Chairman Lev Shlosberg over the past several months had not arrived in Moscow, despite the fact that he replies extensively and tries to write to everyone. Lev Shlosberg asks that letters be sent to him via electronic services (Zonatelecom).

Photo: Andrei Morev (left) and Sergei Mitrokhin (right) / Photo by Moscow Yabloko

The Moscow branch nevertheless receives a great many letters from those in custody. The evening’s organiser, Anna Shatunovskaya-Byurno, read out new letters from Zarema Musayeva, Yuri Dmitriyev, Alexei Maslov, and Ivan Safronov. Each letter was suffused with warmth and gratitude towards all those who support them through correspondence.

Photo: Municipal deputy Anatoly Zakharov; Anna Shatunovskaya-Byurno / Photo by Moscow Yabloko

Writer and artist Maria Voloshchuk spoke about recent tragedies — the deaths in custody of Vladimir Osipov and Alexander Dotsenko — and drew attention to the dangerous situation threatening the health of human rights defender Alexei Sokolov, who had repeatedly complained of torture-like conditions of detention. Access to medical care for prisoners remains a serious problem in Russian remand prisons and penal colonies.

Photo: Participants in the action of writing letters, 26 March 2026 / Photo by Moscow Yabloko

Yabloko supporter Yevgenia Shevelyova presented her touching project dedicated to political prisoners – Yabloko members, and offering a vivid account of the life stories of these prisoners of conscience.

Photo: Yevgenia Shevelyova / Photo by Moscow Yabloko

All those present were treated to a performance by Anna Daneb, the Steel Violin. Anna not only played the violin with extraordinary skill but sang as well; each piece told its own story, evoking the full range of human emotion from dramatic, even tragic intensity to the tender warmth of spring.

Photo: Anna Daneb, the Steel Violin / Photo by Moscow Yabloko

The organisers extend, as always, their heartfelt gratitude to everyone who helped prepare the event and, of course, to all the participants, thanks to whom 415 letters were written on the night.

The next gathering in the series of actions of writing letters to political prisoners will take place at the end of April.