Europa
BULGARIJE
Jock Palfreeman
Jock Palfreeman is een Australiër, die in 2009 twee Romajongens verdedigde tegenover zestien neonazi’s. In de schermutselingen werden twee neonazi’s neergestoken, waarvan er één is overleden. Veroordeeld tot 20 jaar cel voor moord op een neonazi en mishandeling van een neonazi. Tevens is elke vorm van hulp aan Roma, gelijk aan hulp aan illegalen. Hij kreeg ook nog een boete van 375000 Australische dollars.
Adres : Jock Palfreeman –Sofia Central Prison –21 General Stoletov Boulevard –Sofia 1309 -Bulgaria
[Last update : 13/02/2017]
Meer info : Free Jock
______________________________________________________________
DUITSLAND
Thomas Meyer Falk
In 1996 werd Thomas veroordeeld tot 11,5 jaar voor een bankoverval. Omwille van zijn sterke overtuigingen is hij het slachtoffer geweest van enorm harde repressie.
Adres : Thomas Meyer Falk – c/o JVA (SV-Abtlg.) – Hermann-Herder-Str. 8 – D-79104 Freiburg – Germany
[Last update : 13/02/2017]
Meer info via mail : thomas_m_f AT so36.net
Meer info : Freedom for Thomas
Valentin
Duitse antifascist die in juli 2015 gearresteerd werd op beschuldiging van het deelnemen aan gewelddadige confrontaties tussen nazi’s en antifascisten.De Duitse staat heeft duidelijk gemaakt dat Valentin als voorbeeld dient tegen politiek geweld.Valentin kan Engels en Duits lezen.
Adres : Infoladen Bremen, c/o Valentin, St-Pauli-Str. 10-12, 28203 Bremen, Germany.
[Last update : 13/02/2017]
Meer info : Freiheit Fur Valentin
TSJECHIË
Lukáš Borl
Anarchist en veganist, gearresteerd op 4 september 2016 na een jaar ondergedoken te hebben geleefd. Beschuldigd van het oprichten, steunen en promoten van een groepering gericht op “het onderdrukken van mensenrechten en vrijheden” (jaja… als ze er maar een afschrikkende naam op kunnen plakken). Volgens de staat oprichter van een “Netwerk van Revolutionaire Cellen” (SRB). Ook beschuldigd van vandalisme, het in brand steken van politiewagens, graffiti en chantage tegen de eigenaar van een steak-restaurant.
Adres : Lukàs Borl 1.3.1982 – Vazebni veznice Litomerice – Veitova 1 – 412 81 Litomerice – Czech Republic
[Last update : 13/02/2017]
Meer info : Anti-Fenix
VERENIGD KONINKRIJK EN IERLAND
Emma Sheppard, A7372DJ, HMP Send, Ripley Road, Woking, Surrey, GU23 7LJ. [Geüpdatet: 15/06/15]
Op 24 februari 2015 werd de anarchistische gevangene Emma Sheppard veroordeeld tot 2 jaar cel in het Bristol Crown Court voor het “toebrengen van criminele schade waarbij ze roekeloos anderen in gevaar bracht”. De beschuldiging verwijst naar schade toegebracht aan politieauto’s in de omgeving van Bristol. Dit is de eerste veroordeling in het kader van Operation Rhone; een onderzoek, geleid door tien rechercheurs, naar meer dan 100 acties van anonieme aanvallen in de omgeving van Bristol van de voorbije vier jaar, om informatie te verzamelen over de gehele anarchistische beweging, en om te jagen op de voortvluchtige kameraad Badger, die in augustus 2011 gevlucht is. Dit gezegd zijnde lijkt Emma’s arrestatie en schuldig pleiten voor een sabotage uitgevoerd op oudejaarsavond een alleenstaande zaak te zijn, niet het resultaat van Operation Rhone onderzoek, hoewel ze achteraf wel betrokken raakten.
Voor donaties, nieuws en eender welke solidariteitsefforts betreffende Emma, stuur een mailtje naar: bristol_abc[at]riseup.net
ABC Brighton heeft ook een pagina met gevangenisbrieven van Emma
John Bowden, 6729, HMP Barlinnie, 81 Lee Avenue, Riddrie, Glasgow, G33 2QX. [Geüpdatet: 02/10/15]
John Bowden werd in 1982 veroordeeld voor een brutale moord en spendeerde zijn volledige volwassen leven in de gevangenis. Sinds hij gepolitiseerd raakte door zijn opsluiting, heeft hij al vaak voor zijn verzet moeten betalen met lange periodes van isolatie, slaag en behandelingen die naar foltering neigen. Hij is echter nooit gebroken en is één van de meest welbespraakte en luidruchtige gevangenisschrijvers en prominente verdediger van de rechten van gevangenen.
UPDATE: Er werd niks meer gehoord van John sinds zijn recente rechtszaak op 22 september, maar leden van Glasgow FRFI (Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism!) stonden buiten het gerechtsgebouw met plakkaten om hem te ondersteunen. Zij zeiden dat de volgende keer dat hij moet voorkomen op 27 oktober plaatsvindt en dat de datum van zijn rechtszaak vastligt op 17 november [ondertussen verplaatst naar maart 2016]. Deze zaak komt voor omwille van een belachelijke beschuldiging van een “aanval” op een cipier in Greenock Jail, die duidelijk opgezet spel was om te voorkomen dat hij overgeplaatst zou worden naar het halfopen deel van de gevangenis.
John is terug over de Schotse grens overgeplaatst naar Engeland en is sindsdien regelmatig overgeplaatst in het gevangenissysteem –acht overplaatsingen in de voorbije twee maand. Hij ondergaat de psychologische terreur van een “hoge supervisie”-regime: hij wordt elk uur van de nacht gewekt, zogezegd om zeker te zijn dat hij niet uit zijn cel verdwenen is, en wordt gedwongen om een knalgeel plunje te dragen omdat hij heringedeeld werd als iemand met hoge kans op ontsnapping omdat hij in 1992 uit de gevangenis ontsnapte. Meer dan 20 jaar geleden!
De bedoeling is om hem tussen Engeland en Schotland te verplaatsen voor zijn volgende rechtszaak, wat hem zal verhinderen contact te hebben met zijn advocaat in Glasgow en zo zijn mogelijkheid om een degelijke verdediging op te bouwen te bemoeilijken.
Hij zou zeer dankbaar zijn als mensen informatie over zijn huidige situatie kunnen verspreiden en erover kunnen klagen tegen het hoofdkwartier van het gevangeniswezen in Londen:
HM Prison Service
Clive House
70 Petty France
London
SW1H 9EX
Steunbrieven kunnen naar John gestuurd worden via het HMP Barlinnie adres [geüpdatet 02/10/2015].
Sommige van John’s schrijfsels uit de gevangenis kunnen gevonden worden op de website van ABC Brighton:
Schrijfsels van John Bowden.
Je kan ze ook downloaden in gebundelde vorm (door ABC Hurricane) hier:
PDF: Online Versie
PDF: Print Versie A4
Kevan Thakrar, A4907AE, HMP Wakefield, 5 Love Lane, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF2 9AG, UK. [Geüpdatet: 27/03/15]
Kevan Thakrar werd onterecht veroordeeld voor moord en poging tot moord in 2008 op basis van bewijs op basis van geruchten onder ‘joint enterprise’, de wet in het VK die zegt dat eender welk lid van een groep veroordeeld kan worden voor een misdaad, ongeacht of de persoon effectief een rol speelde bij de misdaad. Kevan was niet aanwezig toen de moord plaatsvond, maar hij werd veroordeeld tot levenslang met een minimum van 35 jaar in de gevangenis. Hij was pas 20.
Kevan is systematisch onderworpen geweest aan wraakzuchtig misbruik en geweld door cipiers omdat hij zijn stem verhief over de behandeling van hem en zijn medegevangenen. In maart 2010 werd Kevan beschuldigd met de aanval op drie cipiers in HMP Frankland, maar werd vervolgens onschuldig bevonden in een historische vrijspraak, waar de schuldige vinger al snel terug naar de Gevangenisdienst werd gewezen, wiens regime van racisme en geweld duidelijk blootgelegd werd gedurende het proces van 4 weken.
Ondanks zijn vrijspraak wordt Kevan sindsdien in een isolatieregime gehouden in de beruchte Close Supervision Centres, het Engelse equivalent van het F.I.E.S. regime in Spanje, en de Supermax in de VS. De ‘gevangenissen binnenin de gevangenissen’ bestaan om de onderdrukking, het mentale breken en de moord op zij die zich verzetten binnen het gevangenissysteem te vergemakkelijken; zij die teveel vragen stellen, te vaak klagen, boos worden door frustratie of ontembaar zijn. Ondanks dit alles blijft Kevan spreken over de onrechtvaardigheden die hem en andere gevangen rondom hem daar aangedaan worden.
Voor meer informatie over zijn zaak:
http://justiceforkevan.com/
www.facebook.com/JusticeForKev
Of bezoek ABC Brighton’s pagina met schrijfels over en door Kevan.
WIT-RUSLAND
Arrestatie van de antifascisten in Brest
Laat op de avond van de 8e mei 2014 brak er in Brest, Wit-Rusland, een gevecht uit tussen antifascisten en neonazi’s. De aanleiding van het gevecht was een provocatie van de nazi’s. Eén van de nazi’s begon zijn arm te streken in een Romeinse groet en riep “Sieg Heil” en “White power”. Ze hadden er niet op gerekend dat de antifascisten beter zouden kunnen vechten, dus één van de nazi’s belandde in het ziekenhuis. Aan het begin van de avond van de 9e mei begon de politie de antifascisten die ze kenden te arresteren. Eerst werden de appartementen van twee antifascisten doorzocht, hun computers en laptops in beslag genomen en zelf werden ze opgesloten voor 10 dagen. In de ochtend van de 10e mei werden de huiszoekingen voortgezet. Nog vier appartementen werden doorzocht en opnieuw werden computers en persoonlijke spullen meegenomen door de politie. Eén van de antifascisten was op dat moment niet thuis, dus bleef hij op vrije voeten waar de drie anderen aangehouden werden.
Eén van de opgesloten antifascisten, Vladimir Dudorga, was voorheen al bedreigd geweest door KGB officieren omwille van zijn actieve antifascistische houding. Dudorga werd later op vrije voeten gesteld.
Dzmitry Zvan’ko, 225295 Brestskaya oblast, Ivatsevichi, p/b 20, IK-22, Volchi Nory, Belarus.
Dzmitry Stsyashenka, 225875, Brestskaya oblast, Kobrinski r-n, d. Luschiki IUOT № 6, Belarus.
Roman Bogdan, 224030 ul. K. Marksa, 86 Brest, SIZO-7, Belarus.
[adressen correct op 10/10/15]
Update: [08/10/15]: Er werd een verdict bereikt in de zaak van de Brest antifascisten beschuldigd van deelname aan een groepsgevecht met neonazi’s op 8 mei 2014. De antifascisten werden berecht onder art. 339.3 (kwaadwillig groepshooliganisme) en 147.2 (kwaadwillig toebrengen van letsel). De zaak werd als kwaadwillig gekwalificeerd omwille van het feit dat er pepperspray gebruikt werd tijdens het gevecht.
Dzmitry Stsyashenka kreeg 5 jaar strafkolonie met versterkt regime (339.3) en 500 euro schadevergoeding te betalen aan de gewonde nazi’s.
Roman Bogdan kreeg 8 jaar strafkolonie met versterkt regime (339.3, 147.2) en 3500 euro schadevergoeding aan de gewonde nazi’s.
Nog een antifascist (volledige naam niet vrijgegeven) kreeg 5 jaar strafkolonie met versterkt regime (339.3) en 500 euro schadevergoeding te betalen aan de gewonde nazi’s.
Het moet duidelijk gemaakt worden dat in 2014 Dzmitry Zvan’ko veroordeeld werd tot 5 jaar gevangenis voor hetzelfde voorval. Dzmitry Stsyashenka zit momenteel ook een andere straf van 4 jaar uit op dit moment.
NB: De namen worden zowel in het Russisch als het Wit-Russisch gegeven, aangezien het gevangenisregister in het Russisch is, maar we raden je aan om post te richten aan de Russische namen. Alsook: tijdens de eerste weken (of maanden) van gevangenschap worden gevangenen in quarantaine eenheid geplaatst (nog niet geregistreerd binnen een gevangeniseenheid terwijl ze onderzocht worden door dokters en door de registratie gaan – kan enkele weken of maanden duren), dus zet KARANTIN op de enveloppe waar het nodig is. Het is ook mogelijk om online brieven naar Wit-Russische gevangenen te sturen via de ABC Belarus website.
Vlad Lenko Igorevich, 224030 ul. K. Marksa, 86 Brest, SIZO-7, k.39 Belarus.
Arrested for a fight with neo nazis in December 2014. Vlad, an Anti-fascist from Ivatsevichy, is charged under Art 339.2 (Hooliganism in a group of people.) and 147.2 (Causing grievous bodily harm.) The court sentenced Vlad to a six year period of imprisonment in a maximum security colony. a large amount of money is needed to appeal the verdict, as it stays hopeful that the sentence can be reduced by half. Money is also needed to aid him in paying off the ordered compensation of €1000 to the victim.
Gearresteerd voor een gevecht met neonazi’s in december 2014. Vlad, een antifascist uit Ivatsevichy, werd berecht onder artikel 339.2 (Hooliganisme in groep) en 147.2 (Ernstig lichamelijk letsel toebrengen). Het gerecht veroordeelde Vlad tot 6 jaar gevangenis in een maximale-veiligheidskolonie. Er is een enorme som geld nodig om het verdict aan te vechten, aangezien de hoop blijft dat de uitspraak gehalveerd kan worden. Er is ook geld nodig om hem te helpen de opgelegde schadevergoeding van €1000 te betalen aan het slachtoffer.
Fundraising WebMoney: $ Z418615316084 / €
E146518161935
Paypal: belarus_abc[at]riseup[dot]net
European bank account: vraag ABC Belarus.
NB: Het is mogelijk om online brieven naar gevangenen te schrijven via de ABC Belarus website.
Zie ook: wiki.avtonom.org voor up-to-date lijsten van gevangenen in de ex-Sovjet-Unie.
We zijn bezig met het vertalen van de rest van de lijst met gevangenen. Als je geen Engels spreekt en graag meer informatie krijgt over één van de gevangenen in de lijst, stuur ons een mailtje en dan vertalen we hun verhaal voor je!
GREECE
Conspiracy of the Cells of Fire Prisoners
Most of the CCF prisoners are currently involved in a series of new trials dealing with the 250 bombings and arsons between 2008 and 2011 alleged against the organisation (including attacks on the Golden Dawn’s offices, the Athens Administrative Court, and Koridallos prisons), as well as the sending of a series of 14 parcel bombs. All are also under investigation concerning the ‘Phoenix’ project and the ‘Operation Ardire’ case.
Haris Hatzimichelakis
Panayiotis Argyrou
Dikastiki Filaki A Pteryga, Koridallos, TK 18110, Athens, Greece. [Updated 05/02/13]
Both are serving 25 years in prison out of a total sentence of 37 years for their part in the so-called “Halandri Case”. They are currently awaiting future Cells of Fire trials. [for more information, see Inter Arma]
Damiano Bolano
Giorgos Nikolopoulos
Michalis Nikolopoulos
Dikastiki Filaki A Pteryga, Koridallos, TK 18110, Athens, Greece.
Christos Tsakalos # [Transfered to the ‘special wing’ in the basement of the womens’ section of Korydallos prison. Updated: 05/01/15]
Damiano Bolano is also serving a 68 years sentence for being member of CCF and charges stemming from the ‘Halandri case’ trial and will be deported after serving the maximum 25 years.
Giorgos and Michaelis Nikolopoulos are also serving 68 years sentences for being member of CCF and charges stemming from the ‘Halandri case’ trial & 16 months for illegal possession of arms.
Christos Tsakalos is serving 7 years for being member of CCF and charges stemming from the ‘Halandri case’ trial.
Olga Economidou, Central women’s prison, TK 18110, Koridallos, Athens, Greece.
Giorgos Polydoras
Dikastiki Filaki A Pteryga, Koridallos, TK 18110, Athens, Greece. [Updated 02/02/14]
Gerasimos Tsakalos # [Transfered to the ‘special wing’ in the basement of the womens’ section of Korydallos prison. Updated: 05/01/15]
Olga, Giorgos and Christos were arrested on March 14, 2011 and are currently awaiting trial in the ‘Volos case’ and for other Cells of Fire-related charges.
All currently awaiting trial on Cells of Fire-related charges, having been held in pre-trial detention for more than 3 years.
Theofilos Mavropoulos, Dikastiki Filaki A Pteryga, Koridallos, TK 18110, Athens, Greece. [Updated 02/02/14]
On May 18, 2011, Mavropoulos was arrested in the Athens neighbourhood of Pefki after being seriously wounded during a shoot-out with two patrol officers. Giannis Michailidis, the comrade who was with him, managed to escape and has taken full responsibility for his role in that incident already. Mavropoulos is being charged with two counts of attempted homicide, among other charges. After spending a month in the hospital, he was transferred to the “general population” wing at Koridallos. At the end of December 2011 he was moved to Malandrino as preliminary punishment for the escape he attempted alongside several Fire Cells Conspiracy members. He has since joined the CCF.
To keep up to date on the various CCF cases [in English], see:
https://interarma.info/en/
http://325.nostate.net/
http://actforfree.nostate.net/
# NB: Prisoners held in the new ‘special wings’ and C Type prisons in Greece have severe restrictions place upon their communications. Phone calls are all monitored and mail is subjected to censorship and your letters may not reach the intended recipient.
Cells of Fire-related cases
In the latest trial, Giannis Naxakis, Nikos Romanos, Giannis Michailidis, Dimitris Politis, Argiris Dalios, Fivos Harisis and Grigoris Sarafoudis have gone on trial on February 3, 2014 in the special court in Koridallos’ women’s prison for a series of bank robberies, clashes with the cops, etc.
“Halandri” & “Nea Smyrni Case” related prisoners:
Giorgos Karagiannidis
Alexandros Mitrousias
Dikastiki Filaki A Pteryga, Koridallos, TK 18110, Athens, Greece. [Updated 12/04/13]
They deny being members of the Cells of Fire. Giorgos and Alexandros were both tried in the so-called “Halandri case” and sentenced to 20 years and 11 years in prison respectively. All 3 are currently on trial for the “Nea Smyrni case” (on charges of forming an “unnamed terrorist organisation”) and are facing further Cells of Fire-related charges. Here is a link to a recent statement.
Update: Kostantinos Sakkasescaped his ‘conditional
freedom’ and has gone underground. One of his co-accused in the same case, Stella Antoniou, who was free on bail was arrested and detained again recently. [source]
Tasos Theofilou, Dikastiki Filaki A Pteryga, Koridallos, TK 18110, Athens, Greece.
Anarchist communist Tasos Theofilou has been sentenced to 25 years in prison in connection with an armed robbery in Paros on 10/8/2012 during which a taxi driver, Dimitri Micha, was killed. He was found guilty of two felony charges: participating in a robbery with his physical characteristics covered, and being an abettor in manslaughter committed in a calm mental state. He was also convicted of three misdemeanors: carrying a firearm, forgery (accusation relating to vehicles of the robbers), and accepting the proceeds of crime (the getaway car of the robbers). However, he was found not guilty of membership of a terrorist organisation (namemly C.C.F.), possession of explosives and ordnance, forgery of five identification cards, use of a firearm, and two attempted homicides.
The verdicts were based solely on a single piece of ‘evidence’, DNA from a hair allegedly found on a hat that had supposedly been dropped by the fleeing robbers. None of the eye witnesses recognised Theofilou and the court itself found that he was not a member of the organisation that prosecutors accused of having been involved in the robbery i.e. C.C.F.. [Updated: 11/02/14]
Revolutionary Struggle Prisoners & Others
On April 10, 2010, the Anti-terrorist Department of the Greek Police arrested six people in Athens :
Nikos Maziotis, Panagiota “Pola” Roupa, Kostas Gournas, Vaggelis Stathopoulos, Sarandos Nikitopoulos, and Christoforos Kortesis. All were known for their long presence in the anarchist/anti-authoritarian movement. Two weeks later, Nikos Maziotis, Pola Roupa, and Kostas Gournas admitted to participating in the organization known as Revolutionary Struggle (Epanastatikos Agonas). Stathopoulos, Nikitopoulos, and Kortesis denied the charges and stated that they were being persecuted for their years of anarchist activity and their comradely political relationships with the others. Two others, Marie Beraha and Kostas Katsenos, were also charged and included in the trial.
On April 3, 2013 the judgment on the Revolutionary Struggle case was handed down:
Nikos Maziotis was sentenced to 86 years’ imprisonment in absentia; his sentence was merged into 50 years. Pola Roupa and Kostas Gournas were both sentenced to 87 years (Pola sentenced in absentia); each sentence was merged into 50 years and 6 months.
For all three of them, the maximum prison term is 25 years (which are typically served either as a full sentence or by day wages in prisons, or after the completion of 3/5 of the prison term, when a prisoner can be granted conditional release under specific conditions).
Kostas Gournas Dikastiki Filaki A Pteryga, Koridallos, TK 18110, Athens, Greece. [Updated: 25/08/15]
Nikos Maziotis Geniko Katastima Kratisis Domokou, Ε Pteryga, 35010 Domokos, Fthiotida, Greece. [Updated: 25/08/15]
Vaggelis Stathopoulos and Christoforos Kortesis were sentenced to 8 and 7 years’ imprisonment, respectively. The sentence against Vaggelis Stathopoulos was merged into 7 years and 6 months.
Marie Beraha, Sarantos Nikitopoulos and Kostas Katsenos were acquitted on the benefit of doubt.
In addition, for all five convicted anarchists, the judges’ decision provided for deprivation of their political rights (5 years for the three admitted members of Revolutionary Struggle, and 3 years for the other two anarchists, Vaggelis and Christoforos, who denied R.S. membership). [source]
NB: Christoforos Kortesis and Vaggelis Stathopoulos have since been conditionally released (€2,000 bail, obligation to present himself twice a month at his nearest police station, ban from leaving the country). [04/04/13 & 09/07/13]
Nikos Maziotis # [Transfered to the 5th wing of the new type C prison in Domokos. Updated: 03/01/15]
Nikos was on the run for two years, was seriously wounded and arrested on July 16, 2014, after a shootout with cops in Monastiraki. He was then transferred to the tightly-guarded Evangelismos hospital, where he was hospitalised and has since been transferred to the new type C maximum-security prison in Domokos. [Updated: 30/12/14]
Rami Syrianos, D2 Pteriga, Filakes Domokou, Τ.Κ. 35010, Domokos, Fthiotida, Greece. [Correct as of: 31/08/14]
Rami is a non-aligned anarchist who was sentenced on 28/05/12 to 8 years & 8 months for a January 2011 armed robbery in Thessaloniki expropriating money from a government auction house.
Andreas-Dimitris Bourzoukos
Argiris Dalios
Fivos Harisis
Giannis Michailidis
Dimitris Politis
Dikastiki Filaki A Pteryga, Koridallos, TK 18110, Athens, Greece.
Giannis Naxakis
Grigoris Sarafoudis
Geniko Katastima Kratisis Domokou, Ε Pteryga, 35010 Domokos, Fthiotida, Greece. [correct as of: 20/01/15]
Both transfered to the 5th wing of the new type C prison in Domokos. [Updated: 05/01/15]
Nikos Romanos
Avlona Special Youth Detention Centre, 19011 Avlonas, Attica, Greece.
Nikos Romanos, Andreas-Dimitris Bourzoukos, Giannis Mihailidis and Dimitris Politis were arrested after a car chase on 01/02/2013 following the double robbery of a branch of the National Post office and a branch of the Agriculture Bank in Venvento, Kozani. In addition, Nikos Romanos and Giannis Mihailidis are accused in the case of the two Volos and Kalithea houses; Giannis Mihailidis and Dimitris Politis for the robbery at a branch of Agriculture Bank in Filotas; Florina and Giannis Mihailidis are accused of taking part in a gunfight with cops in Pefki. Foivos Harisis and Argyrhs Dalios were arrested on 20/04/2013 in Nea Filadelphia, Athens and are also accused of robbery. Argyris and Foivos deny the accusations and their prosecution is based solely on DNA samples collected from the area where the robbery took place. Argyris Dalios is also accused in the case of the two houses in Volos and Kalithea and, along with Foivos Harisis, of the robbery at a branch of Agriculture Bank in Filotas, Florina.
All six are also accused of being members of CCF, something that both they and CCF deny.
The trial for Velvedo case has started on 30/11/2013 and the trial for all the other cases on 03/02/2014. [source] [Updated: 05/02/14]
The trial of Grigoris Sarafoudis and Yannis Naxakis for the ATE Bank robbery in Purgetos began on Monday 31 March. [source] [Updated: 15/04/14]
Giannis Naxakis & Giorgos Sarafoudis were recently imposed with 16 years for bank robbery and will be moved from Korydallos soon. They will appeal the sentence, but Giannis will not appear at the appeal trial nor request a lawyer. [source]
Evangelos Koutsibelas [released Oct. 24, 2014]
41-year-old anarchist Vaggelis Koutsibelas has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment (with the right to appeal) and a 300 euro fine – the prosecution initially requested a total of 27 years in prison – for a string of arson attacks that took place in the city of Trikala during March and April 2012. The main evidence against him appears to have been a police informant, who admitted that the cops had forced him to sign a forged testimony because he had drug charges hanging over him, and whose evidence was refuted by the defence. Other evidence that Vaggelis was in fact elsewhere at the time of one of the arsons was ignored by the court. [Updated: 11/03/13]
Update: Following a decision by the court of appeals to reduce his sentence (to eight years and three months), Evangelos became eligible for conditional release and was paroled on October 24, 2014. He must now report every month to the Trikala police department and reside in the home he has established as permanent residence until completion of the remainder of his sentence. [Updated: 30/10/13]
Andreas Tsavdaridis & Spiros Mandylas were both released from Korydallos prison on Monday 12, 2015, as the 18-months pre-trial detention that was imposed on them has finally ended. Both had been arrested in connection with the sending of a parcel bomb to the former commander of anti-terrorist agency, Dimitris Xorianopoulos, in July 2013, and which Andreas had claimed as part of the ‘Phoenix’ project (act 4). He was arrested on 11/07/2013. Andreas & Spiros were being prosecuted for all acts of the project in Greece, as well as for allegedly being part of the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire, and both he and Spiros had recently been transfered to the ‘special wing’ in the basement of the womens’ section of Korydallos prison. Spiros had denied all the charges against him. [Updated: 13/01/15]
For more recent information about the many Greek prisoners, see: https://interarma.info/en/
# NB: Prisoners held in the new ‘special wings’ and C Type prisons in Greece have severe restrictions place upon their communications. Phone calls are all monitored and mail is subjected to censorship and your letters may not reach the intended recipient.
ITALY
There’s a steady stream of reports of extensive repression from Italy. Ecological anarchists, squatters and ALF activists are more and more active, but are also facing more arrests, raids and random fit-ups. http://en.contrainfo.espiv.net/ is a good source for the latest news from Italy in English.
Nicola Gai
Alfredo Cospito
C.C. Ferrara, Via dell’Arginone 327, ΙΤ-44122 Ferrara, Italy.
[Correct as of: 13/11/15]
Nicola Gai and Alfredo Cospito were arrested on 14th September 2012 and accused of shooting of Roberto Adinolfi, CEO of the nuclear energy company Ansaldo Nucleare, in the knees – an action carried out by Olga/FAI/FRI nucleus on 7th May 2012. During their first trial on October 30, 2013, they admitted their part in the shooting but were prevented from reading out their statements on their behalf. [see Alfredo’s here] At their sentencing hearing on November 12 2013, Alfredo was given ten years and 8 months in prison and Nicola 9 years and 4 months for attack with the purpose of terrorism (under article 280 of the Italian penal code), in addition to reato ostativo (impediment of access to prison benefits, house arrest, semi-custodial regime, etc. given that terrorist purposes were recognized by the court).
In early May 2015, the Supreme Court decided to reduce the sentences of comrades Alfredo Cospito and Nicola Gai.
The final sentences are:
Alfredo Cospito: 9 years, 5 months and 10 days (from 10 years and 8 months)
Nicola Gai: 8 years, 8 months, 20 days (from 9 years and 4 months). [Updated: 13/11/15]
‘Operazione Ardire’ Defendants
At 4 o’clock in the morning of June 13th, 2012, the carabinieri of the Special Operations Group (Raggruppamento Operativo Speciale, ROS) raided around forty homes, implementing the so-called ‘Operazione Ardire’ (Operation Boldness), a crackdown against people from the anarchist movement ordered by Manuela Comodi, public prosecutor of Perugia. A total of 10 arrest warrants were issued – eight within Italy, one sent to Germany and one sent to Switzerland – while 24 suspects have been placed under judicial investigation.
The eight comrades, Stefano Gabriele Fosco, Elisa Di Bernardo, Alessandro Settepani, Sergio Maria Stefani, Katia Di Stefano, Giuseppe Lo Turco, Paola Francesca Iozzi and Giulia Marziale, who were arrested in Pisa, Roma, Perugia, Genova and Terni, have been remanded in custody. Additionally, in Germany and Switzerland precautionary measures were ordered against Gabriel Pombo Da Silva and Marco Camenisch. Among the names of investigated suspects are also those of some imprisoned comrades that are prosecuted in the Conspiracy of the Cells of Fire cases in Greece.
UPDATE: The charge of terrorist association (270bis) has been dropped at the request of prosecutor Manuela Comodi, but the comrades are to stand trial for some specific offences (walls daubing, etc.), with the aggravating circumstance of terrorism. [22/01/14]
For further background on ‘Operazione Ardire’, see actforfree.
Genoa 10
The Italian High Court confirmed on Friday 13th July 2012 the sentences for the 10 activists were guilty of devastation and looting crimes against private property and sentenced for crimes of “devastation and looting” during the G8 summit in Genoa in 2001. Five of the defendants have been granted right to appeal against other related charges, and their cases will be re-examined by the judges. The other five had their appeals rejected and were imprisoned. In 2014, two of the sentenced were released on probation and under house arrest.
Marina Cugnaschi, C.C. Bollate, Via Cristina Belgioioso 120, ΙΤ-20021 Milano, Italy. [Correct as of: 13/11/15]
Serving 12 years and 3 months.
Francesco Puglisi,
Casa Circondariale di Roma Rebibbia, Via Raffaele Majetti, 70, IT-00156 Roma. [Correct as of: 13/11/15]
Serving 14 years.
Francesco “Jimmy” Puglisi went on the run after being sentenced to 14 years in prison following a trial for “devastation and looting” during the 2001 Genoa revolt, was arrested in Barcelona on June 5, 2013. He was then extradited to Italy and has been in the transit section of Rebibbia prison in Rome since July 5, in Jimmy’s words, “waiting until the dogs of the administration or the Department of Penitentiary Administration decide in which section to put me,” and was later moved on to a wing in the same prison.
No-TAV Defendants
The campaign against the building of the Turin-Lyon high speed rail link has been running for 20+ years and regularly produces new arrests as the Italian State tries to suppress resistance.
Chiara Zenobi, Niccolò Blasi, Claudio Alberto and Mattia Zanotti were arrested on December 9, 2013, and accused of committing an act of sabotage occurred in May 2013 against the high speed railway (TAV) construction yard of Chiomonte, Val Susa. The charges pressed against them are heavy: attack with purposes of terrorism carried out with lethal and explosive devices, possession of war weapons, damages.
On December 17, 2014, after a two-hour closed session, the Special Court of Assize of Turin sentenced Chiara Zenobi, Claudio Alberto, Mattia Zanotti and Niccolò Blasi to 3 years and 6 months each. The four comrades, imprisoned since December 9th, 2013, were found guilty of having sabotaged the TAV construction site in Chiomonte but were all acquitted of terrorism-related charges, for which the prosecutor had asked for a total sentence of nine years and a half. This means that they have since been released from prison to serve a period of house arrests.
A further 3 anarchists, Lucio Alberti, Francesco Sala and Graziano Mazzarelli, were arrested on July 11, 2014, in connection with the same action at the Chiomonte TAV site between May 13 & 14, 2013 that Chiara Zenobi, Claudio Alberto, Mattia Zanotti and Niccolò Blasi were arrested for. In May 2015 Francesco Sala and Graziano Mazarelli were released under house arrest whilst Lucio Alberti was released is September.
Operation Ardesia
The two comrades were involved in so called ‘Operation Ardesia’ (2006), one of the many police operations unleashed against the anarchists of Il Silvestre, Pisa, once again under the pretext that the comrades involved were part of a terrorist organization. After long judicial proceedings and time served in prison, all the comrades were acquitted of terrorism charges in 2010, but Francesco and Daniele were also charged with a robbery occurred in Lucca, Tuscany, in 2007. Released from prison at different times between 2007 and 2010, the two comrades lost the appeal trial and were sentenced by the Court of Cassation in May 2014 and subsequently sent to jail. Francesco will have to serve 2 years and a month, Daniele 1 year and 9 months.
Daniele Casalini, C.C. di Pisa ‘Don Bosco’, Via Don Bosco 43, ΙΤ-56100 Pisa, Italy. [Correct as of: 13/11/15]
Francesco Gioa, C.C. di Livorno ‘Le Sughere’, Via delle Macchie 9, ΙΤ-57100 Livorno, Italy. [Correct as of: 13/11/15]
Carmelo Musumeci, C.C. Padova, Via Due Palazzi 25/A, 35136 ΙΤ-Padova, Italy. [Correct as of: 30/12/13]
[Non english speaker]
Imprisoned for mafia related crimes, Carmelo is a turned anarchist lifer who has already spent more than 20 years in jail. Sentenced under the article 41-bis, which is used against people imprisoned for particular crimes such as mafia involvement, aggravated robbery and crimes committed for subversion of the constitutional system, means it can only be suspended when a prisoner co-operates with the authorities, when a court annuls it, or when a prisoner dies. Carmelo has done numerous hunger strikes, is a prolific writer and an active campaigner for the abolishment of life detention.
More information about him can be found on: www.carmelomusumeci.com/
RUSSIA
NB: Moscow ABC advise that letters in English are seldom accepted in Russian prisons, so if you do not have a chance to write in Russian (i.e. by using simply phrases and translating them by a translation program), just send photos and postcards.
Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Kolchenko, Lefortovskiy val, 5, p/b 201, 111020 Moscow, Russia. [NB: only letters in Russian are accepted, so you can send postcards or use google translate in case you do not speak Russian][correct as of: 29/07/14]
Aleksandr Kolchenko was detained in Crimea on May 17, 2014, on suspicion of participation in a “terrorist group,” which planned explosions near the eternal fire memorial and the Lenin monument in Simferopol on May 8th and 9th, and of having sabotaged railway tracks and electricity lines. Kolchenko is also suspected of having carried out two arson attacks: against the headquarters of the Russian Unity-party and Russian Community of Crimea on April 14th, and the office of the United Russia party in Simferopol on April 18th. He has since been transferred to Moscow and is being kept in the Lefortovo remand prison. The case is run by the FSB, the former KGB.
Aleksandr is an anarchist and antifascist who has participated in student and environmental actions. He has been part of campaigns against tuition fees and supported workers’ rights protests. He was under constant Nazi attack for his antifascist ideas. One incident took place after a film screening about murdered anti-fascist journalist Anastasiya Baburova, where he was attacked by thirty Nazis using knives. In this context, claims by the Russian authorities that Aleksandr is part of the nationalist “Right Sector” are ridiculous, and he is denying these claims.
As lawyers of the accused are subject to a gag order, we have limited information on the charges and the level of cooperation from the suspect. We know that Aleksandr has admitted to being present at the location of the arsons, but he denies terrorist charges, which carry a 20-year maximum prison sentence. There is no reason to believe that he has implicated anyone else.
Aleksandr Kolchenko is claimed to be part of a bigger group protesting against the Russian invasion of Crimea by organising direct actions. A famous film director, Oleg Sentsov, as well as two Maydan activists, Gennadiy Afanasyev and Alexei Chirniy, have also been detained under the same suspicion. All of them are claimed to be part of the Right Sector (a Ukrainian ultra-right organisation). This is a lie as apart from Chirniy none of the accused have any connection to the Right sector, and Aleksandr Kolchenko has never shared nationalist ideas. The whole case is considered to be part of the Russian campaign to take over Crimea, which includes repressions against anyone who doesn’t comply with the new authority.
Oleg Sentsov’s arrest has gained worldwide attention, as recently, a number of known directors, including Pedro Almodovar, Mike Leigh, Agnieszka Holland, Stephen Daldry, Bela Tarr and Wim Wenders signed a petition demanding his release.
Since this case is highly political, Aleksandr’s legal costs are high, around 850 euro per month. We expect the investigation to last long enough as to put a heavy financial strain on local ABC groups. So we call for support with finances and information distribution. You can make donations via PayPal to abc-msk@riseup.net or using a bank account (write to the same e-mail address for details).
An international week of actions for the arrested will take place from July 15 to July 22. [Updated: 27/06/14]
Read Aleksandr’s latest statement: Aleksandr Kolchenko: I am not a terrorist. I am a citizen of Ukraine [20/11/14]
Igor Olegovich Kharchenko
Igor was arrested in September 2011. He is accused of having participated in a fight on the July 4, 2010, during which the audience of a punk hardcore concert dispersed a band of nationalists, who had come in order to kill and maim concert guests. Igor, however, did not take part in the fight – plenty of those present at the concert have given testimony, that during the fight Igor was performing in the concert.
Igor has since been transferred to a prison camp, but he does not want to receive support letters from people he does not know. [Updated: 30/02/14]
Alexey ‘Sokrat’ Sutuga is a member of Autonomous Action and has been active in the anarchist movement in the past ten years, including the ecological protest camp against uranium enrichment in city of Angarsk in Siberia, which was assaulted by nationalists in the early morning hours. Ilya Borodaenko from Nahodka of Pacific Ocean was murdered there, and a number of other visitors of the camp were seriously wounded. He was arrested in April 2012 and remaned in prison accused along with Alexey Olesinov and Alyon Volikov of having taken part in an incident in the Moscow club “Vozdukh”, where on December 17, 2011, during a punk-hardcore concert, a conflict between the audience and the security took place. The club security, consisted of supporters of the far right, and were provoking guests. Due to the conflict, the concert was stopped prematurely, but the security attempted to take some guests hostage, threatening them with punishment from their friends – nationalist football hooligans. Concert guests resisted, the security opened fire with rubber coated metal bullets, but soon the concert-goers gained the upper hand and the security was neutralised and sent to the hospital. The case against them was eventually dropped in January 2014 on the eve of the Sochi Winter Olympics as part of the amnesty bill, approved as a PR stunt on initiative of Vladimir Putin.
However Alexey is now back in prison, having been arrested on April 5, 2014, for a fight with ultra rightist and placed under investigation. At the trial on September 30, 2014, hewas sentenced by Zamoskvoretskiy Court in Moscow to three years and one month in prison for his alleged involvement in a fight. A day earlier, the prosecutor had asked for it four years and two months in prison. [Updated: 02/10/14]
Alexey Vladimirovich Sutua, currently in transit to a prison in Irkutsk in Siberia.[correct as of: 15/02/15]
6th of May Defendants
19 people are currently under arrest for alleged involvement in rioting in Bolotnaya square on May 6th 2012, the eve of Putin’s inauguration. Stepan Zimin and Alexey Polikhovich have both been given prison time [1][2]and Alexendra Dukhanina was given a period of probation.
http://6may.org/en/
Stepan Yurevich Zimin – Currently being transferred to the penal colony [correct as of: 24/02/15]
Alexey Alexeevich Polikhovich – Currently being transferred to the penal colony [correct as of: 24/02/15]
Russian anti-fascist Alexey Gaskarov is currently being held in prison awaiting trial on charges of resisting police on May 6 2012 during the so-called ‘riot’ on Bolotnaya Square on May 6, 2012.
Alexey Vladimirovich Gaskarov, FKU SIZO-2 UFSIN Rossii po g. Moskve, ul. Novoslodskaya d. 45 127055 Moscow, Russia. [correct as of: 29/07/14]
Ilya Eduardovich Romanov, 1967 g.r., FKU SIZO-1, ul. Gagarina, d.26-a, 603098, Nizhnii Novrogod, Russia (letters only in Russian and do not contain statements about the political activities of anarchists) [correct as of: 29/07/14]
46-year-old anarchist Ilya Romanov was wounded in Nizhnii Novgorod following the blast of a pyrotechnic device (a firecracker) which severely injured his left hand and burned his face. Ilya was taken to hospital where doctors amputated his arm. He was arrested and charges under Article 205 through Article 30 of the Criminal Code of Russian Federation (“attempt a terrorist attack”) despite a total lack of any evidence to support the terrorist angle.
See also: wiki.avtonom.org for up-to-date listings of prisoners in the ex-Soviet Union.
SPAIN
Straight Edge Madrid
Five comrades from a vegan and anarchist group from Madrid, Spain, called Straight Edge Madrid were arrested on November 4, 2015 in their families’ houses. One of them was not in the country but the police were looking for him too.
On Friday four of them were freed but had to pay €3.000, 4.000 and 10.000 in bail fees respectively, the other two were imprisoned without bail. They are accused of being part of a terrorist organisation and the police has taken away personal belongings such as hoodies, books and their computers. This is another move by a repressive state using excessive police force distracting from real political issues to sway the voters for the coming election.
The group they were part of (which has been forced to dissolve by police pressure) was anarchist, anti-speciesism and anti-drugs, they were organised and did a lot of activities to heighten people’s awareness of the state and its forms of repression.
Nahuel and Borja are known to our Spanish comrades and they need our help. They are in separate prisons with FIES 3 regime which effectively means they have restricted communication and they are completely cut off from the outside.
Borja Marquerie Echave, Centro Penitenciario Madrid II, Crta. Meco, 5, C.P 28805, Alcalá de Henares, Spain.
José Manuel Bustamante Vergara, Centro penitenciario Madrid V., Carretera M-609, km.3,5., C.P 28791, Soto del real Madrid, Spain.
Support Campaign Bank Account details:
0049 6396 51 2790012974 Santander
(Recordamos no poner nada en concepto).
Operation Pandora
On Tuesday, December 16, at 5am, hundreds of cops broke into several houses, social centers, and ateneos in Barcelona, and also an apartment in Madrid. It was part of Operation Pandora, an anti-terrorist initiative carried out by the the highest level of the Spanish court system. Several houses were searched and eleven anarchist comrades were arrested. They did not know what charges they were accused of when they were arrested, just given a vague “anarchist terrorism” charge.
On Thursday, December 18, seven of them went to prison and the other four were released under surveillance. All of them are now accused of the participating in the GAC (Coordinated Anarchist Groups), a group of people who held some meetings and edited some books. Earlier in November, 2013, five people were arrested and two are still in prison. They are also accused of the participating in the GAC and also committing some direct actions against churches. [21/12/14]
[source]
For more info: What’s Behind Operation Pandora?
UPDATE: The 7 comrades arrested on December 16, 2014 as part of Operation Pandora who were released on conditional bail on January 30, 2015.
Following the opening of the investigative file, it is now known that they are facing charges such as membership in GAC (Coordinated Anarchist Groups), attacks against banks, posting parcel bombs (one to the Archbishop of Pamplona, one to a member of the fascist congregation Legionaries of Christ, and others to Italian companies), while “they are linked”—always according to the police—with the explosive attacks against the Cathedral of Almudena in Madrid (February 7, 2013) and the Basilica of the Pillar in Zaragoza (October 2, 2013), the latter having led to the indictment and pretrial detention of our comrades Mónica Caballero and Francisco Solar.
The police statement ends with a victorious “according to the investigators, the structure of the GAC/FAI-FRI is disrupted in Catalonia, the stronghold of this criminal organisation with terrorist purposes against the Spanish State”. What these servants of Power do not recognise (and never will) is that they sought to generate fear to all other comrades with this operation, which not only failed, but we can say without a doubt has generated the opposite effect. [source]
Enrique Costoya Allegue, CP Madrid V Soto del Real, Ctra M-609, km 3,5 Modulo 15, 28791 Soto del Real (Madrid), Spain. [Updated: 03/11/15]
On the morning of October 28, 2015, seven anarchist comrades were arrested in Barcelona and a further two in Manresa. Eight houses and social centers in the neighborhoods of Sant Andreu, Clot, Gràcia, and Sants were raided, including the Ateneu Llibertàri de Sants and La Revoltosa in Clot. As per usual, units from the Information Brigade stole materials, including electronic equipment, money, and propaganda.
This operation is a continuation of the repressive attack known as the Pandora Case, which was carried out in December of 2014 with the arrest of eleven comrades who are currently awaiting trial, and is related to Operation Piñata and Operation Columna, carried out by the Policia Nacional to repress comrades by claiming that they were members an organisation named GAC (Anarchist Coordinated Groups), which the State considers to be of terrorist nature.
Eight of those arrested were released on bail but Enrique Costoya Allegue remains in custody. [Updated: 03/11/15]
Madrid Five. Operación Piñata
On March 31st , during the second part of Operación Pandora, under the guise of Operación Piñata, there were many arrests in various Spanish cities: 9 in Madrid, 3 in Barcelona and 2 in Palencia. 14 others were arrested for resistance to authority. They were all released, except five who were accused of terrorism, sabotage and the placing incendiary devices as part of the Coordinated Anarchist Groups (GAC). They were put in preventive custody for two months, dispersed and then the Madrid Five, Paul Jara Zevallos, Javier Grijalbo Adán, Javier Garcia Castro, Jorge Linares Izquierdo and Enrique Balaguer Perez were released during the first week of June after being charged. [18/06/15]
Barcelona Five
On May 15, 2013 a major crackdown was launched by the Mossos D’Squadra [Catalan police] which was directed from the National Audience Court in Madrid [high prosecution panel], in which five anarchists were arrested in various parts of Catalonia for alleged membership of the Bandera Negra group (un grupo ‘especialmente activo’). This is seen as a media-orientated coup to coincide with the second anniversary of the 15-M popular protests, a media lynching, where these libertarians still remain in pretrial custody.
The five comrades are currently dispersed in 5 different regional prisons under the FIES3 penitentiary regime. They are no longer in isolation, but the state continues with the other FIES restrictions they apply You can send letters to all of them at the following addresses listed below. Note that the communications are being monitored so we propose maximum prudence in the contents of the letters themselves. Details of the case and solidarity initiatives can be found on the support blog to the five of Barcelona.
Remember the account number solidarity for prisoners and their families:
Bankia account number (Spain): 2038 9252 63 3000365109
Mail for Silvia Muñoz Layunta, Juan José Garrido Marcos, Yolanda Fernández Fernández, Xabier González Solar and Jose Carlos Recio Minguez has recently been returned marked either ‘unknown’ or ‘released’ but we have no other current information on their status. We will amend when we have further news. [Updated: 11/06/15]
Basilica del Pillar Case
On November 13, 2013, the National Police raided the house of four anarchists in Barcelona, arresting the four comrades and another in the vicinity of her home the same morning. The five have been accused of having placed a device that exploded at the Basilica del Pillar in Zaragoza (Spain) on October 2. Arrested under the Anti-Terrorism Act against a backdrop of a media feeding frenzy, the 3 arrested Italian comrade Valeria Giamoni, Gerardo Damián Formoso and Rocío Yune, were released upon bail after remaining incommunicado for 5 days; their passports were retained and must appear in court on a periodic basis. The two Spanish comrades, Monica Caballero and Francisco Solar, were however remanded in “provisional custody” (i.e. pre-trial custody or remand) – charged with Illicit Terrorist Association, the placeing of Explosive Artefacts (specifically at the Church of Zaragoza) and Conspiracy to Commit Terrorist Acts (alleged plans to attack the Monastery of Montserrat in Barcelona) – by the National Court, for an unspecified period whilst the “investigations” take place.
UPDATE [21/04/14]: Both compañeros remain in preventive detention and have passed through a number of different prisons [current addresses below]. They remain in FIES 3, with eight 5-minute calls per week, restriction of correspondence (only 2 letters per week) and we know they still have no limit on how many letters they can receive, one weekly visit of 40 minutes and are both dispersed in prisons distant from their friends and compañeras, the so-called ‘dispersion’ as the way of punishing political prisoners or rebels, seeking to exhaust the strength of those who go visit them.
Mónica Andrea Caballero Sepúlveda, Ávila-Prisión Provincial, Ctra. de Vicolozano s/nvApdo. 206, 05194 Brieva (Ávila), Spain. [Correct as of: 29/07/14]
Francisco Javier Solar Domínguez, C.P. Villabona, Finca Tabladiello s/n, 33422 Villabona-Llanera, (Asturias), Spain. [Correct as of: 10/11/15]
NB: The Claudicar Nunca Rendirse Jamas blog covers all the latest news around the Basilica del Pillar Case and other current acts of state repression in Italy.
The Cordoba Four
The Malaga court of appeal sentenced the anarchists Giovani Barcia, Michele Pontolillo and Claudio Lavaza, already sentenced to 11 years on September 1999, for an incident in the Italian vice-consulate in December 1996. Three persons wearing balaclavas imprisoned the consul and an employee, sending a message of solidarity to the Italian prisoners jailed by the Judge Marini (the judge who built a false accusation against Italian anarchists) and disappeared with passports and some money. These three Italians were convicted of this, as well as a previous bank robbery with sentences of 49 years for Claudio, 48 years for Giorgio and Giovani, 3 years for Michele. Write to them:
Claudio Lavazza C.P. Teixeiro (módulo 11), Carretera Paradela s/n, 15310 Teixeiro-Curtis (A Coruña), Spain. [Correct as of: 27/10/14]
Giorgio Rodriguez
Disappeared when out of prison on three days release Summer 2009.
Giovanni Barcia C.P.El Acebuche, Ctra. Cueva de los Úbeda, km 2,5, 04071.- El Acebuche, Almería, Spain.
Jose María Pirla Olivan
CP Zuera, Carretera Zuera a Erla, 50800 Zuera, Zaragoza, Spain.
An anarchist comrade who has been in prison for 30 years and who currently has an on-going campaign for his release. See:
http://carceligualtortura.org
contacto[at]carceligualtortura.org
Gabriel Pombo da Silva
Centro Penitenciario de Topas – Salamanca, Ctra. N-630, km. 314 37799 Topas (Salamanca), Spain. [Correct as of: 18/09/15]
Gabriel continues to be held under FIES-5, denied visits and his mail restricted. If you want to write to Gabriel, even if he can’t reply, it is best to do it by registered mail so that letters don’t get lost and are put on record. He is unable to receive texts, pamphlets, books, etc.). [Updated: 06/06/14]
SWEDEN
Joel Almgren, Skogholmsvägen, 522 85 Tidaholm, Sweden. [Correct as of: 10/11/14]
Joel is a Swedish anti-fascist currently on remand for defending an anti-racist demonstration in Kärrtorp, near Stockholm, from a vicious attack by the neo-Nazi group Swedish National Resistance. During the fight, a number of the attackers were seriously injured and Joel is facing possible charges associated with these injuries.
Update: Joel was sentenced to 5.5 years on appeal and has been transferred to a new prison. [Updated: 10/08/14]
SWITZERLAND
Marco Camenisch, Strafansalt Saxerriet, PF 1, CH – 9465 Salez, Switzerland. [Correct as of: 04/01/16]
Marco is a Swiss anarchist and environmental activist who has been in prison since 1991. He is serving a 18 year sentence: 10 years for using explosives to destroy electricity pylons leading from nuclear power stations and 8 years for the murder of a Swiss Border Guard whilst on the run. In 2002 Marco completed a 12-year sentence in Italy for destroying electricity pylons in Italy as part of a sabotage campaign against the nuclear industry.
Denied parole on a number of ocassions in recent years, prompting him to engage in a series of ‘non-cooperation with the prison regime’ protests, such as refusing to provide urine samples for drugs testing, he was due another review in May 2015. The basis of this was a forensic psychiatric department “risk-oriented sanctions enforcement” assessment report that recommends his political distancing or rather political renunciation of his “crime-promoting ideology” as a requirement for conditional release. Therefore, Marco must renounce his many and international comrades, friends and acquaintances of many years, and with the help and under control of the executive authorities, build a “delinquency-free” environment, so that an “enforcement plan with a realistic relief perspective” would be considered.
Thus Marco was again denied parole despite having served two-thirds of his sentence. So it was good news to hear that he was transferred to Switzerland’s only open prison on November 17, 2015. Hopefully his release will come sooner rather than later.
TURKEY
Osman Evcan, Kocaeli 1 Nolu F Tipi Cezaevi, A-7-21, Kandıra / Kocaeli, Turkey. [Correct as of: 21/12/15]
Osman Evcan is an anarchist prisoner who spent his last 23 years in prison. In 1992 he was sentenced to 30 years in prison on charges of being a member of a leftist terrorist group and robbery. He was also imprisoned for 9 years between 1980-89. Osman adopted anarchist ideas in 2003, and has also become a vegan and supports animal liberation struggles.
Osman Evcan has been imprisoned in many different prisons all over the country during his conviction, fighting against authoritarian violence and especially the violence and oppression which is a systemic part of the prison’s hierarchical structure, and has continued his fight against prison’s oppressive mentality, without giving an inch, through a number of hunger strikes.
His first hunger strike in 2011, which lasted 42 days, was for vegan food to be available in prison. During that protest, anarchists and animal liberationists from all over the world, as well as in Turkey, supported Osman’s fight to access vegan food in prison. After 42 days on hunger strike the government gave in and made regulations for the vegan and vegetarian prisoners: “Vegan or vegetarian prisoners demands will be accepted as long as its limited by subsistence allowance.”
After this victory, Osman continued the anarchist struggle from within the prison system. He has supported the LGBT, Animal Liberation, women rights and anti-imperialist struggles outside prison and has carried out 3-day hunger strikes to protest the animal massacre during each ‘feast of sacrifice’ every year. He has also written articles in support of a wide range of struggles and continues his political fight as much as he can from prison.