« Joining forces to help political prisoners… »

letter from prison by Boris Kagarlitsky

Putin’s regime is multiplying convictions, prison sentences and repressive measures. In addition to liberal opposition figures and any citizen who publicly expresses his or her rejection of the war in Ukraine, repression is hitting working-class and socialist organizations and activists harder every day. For example, the Russian Socialist Movement (RSD) and most of its leaders have just been branded « agents of foreigners », a characterization that entails police surveillance and often precedes arrest.

In a letter he was able to smuggle out of prison on April 4, sociologist Boris Kagarlitsky, sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for « apologie du terrorisme » for opposing the war in Ukraine, notes that « socialists, communists, anarchists and also simple leftwing democrats who are not members of any party, are increasingly falling victim to the repressive machine« . He adds that, « fortunately, support for political prisoners is also becoming a mass movement. Thousands of people are writing letters to arrested activists, collecting money, sending food and warm clothing to prisoners (…). By joining forces to help political prisoners, we are helping to strengthen this movement and establish coordination between individuals and groups (…).

And in the current conditions in Russia, where political action is extremely difficult, helping those who have been thrown into prison because they share our ideas becomes not only a humanist activity, but also a major political act, solidarity put into practice. »

To contribute to the fight for the release of imprisoned labour activists, the editorial staff of La Tribune des Travailleurs and two groups of Russian political émigrés have jointly published a brochure dedicated to this cause.

With our correspondents