Belarus
Roman Bogdan
**Update** Roman was released in March of 2021!
Roman Bogdan was arrested on April 15, 2015, as part of the long-going state repression of anti-fascists in Brest, stemming from a fight between anti-fascists and fascists on May 8, 2013. In October, Roman was sentenced to 8 years in a penal colony and must pay 3500 Euro in damages. On December 15, 2015 a regional appellate court commuted his sentence by 2 years.
He can read Russian and simple English phrases.
Address:
Roman Bogdan
213010 Shklov
p. Molodezhnyj, IK-17, otryad 12
Mogilevskaya obl.
Belarus
Vadim Boyko
Vadim Boyko was arrested on March 22, 2016, on suspicion of participating in a fight that took place on June 29, 2014 between anti-fascist supporters of FC Partyzan and right-wing soccer hooligans from FC Torpedo. The arrests in 2014 were not followed up until 2016, when a special political department decided to start the case with a series of police raids on the antifascists who were alleged to have been involved. On March 10, 2017 Vadim Boyko was sentenced to 4 years of jail, and was re-arrested in July for transfer to a penal colony.
He can read Russian and simple English phrases.
Address:Boyko to Vadim SergeevichIK-17 st. 1st Factory, 8,213004, Shklov, Mogilev regionBelarus
Vlad Lenko
Vlad Lenko is an antifascist from Ivatsevichi (Brest region). He was arrested on December 27, 2014, and accused of taking part in a fight against local neo-Nazis earlier in December. Vlad was charged with group hooliganism and aggravated bodily harm, and in September 2015 was sentenced to 6 years in a penal colony.
Supporters are trying to raise money to appeal the verdict, which they hope will reduce his sentence by half. They also need to collect 1000 Euro to pay damages ordered by the court.
Fundraising WebMoney:
$ Z418615316084
€ E146518161935
He can read Russian and simple English phrases.
Address:
Lenko Vlad Igorevich
211300 Vitebskaya obl.
Vitebskiy rajon, Vitba, IK-3
BELARUS
Bulgaria
Jock Palfreeman
**Update** – On 9/19/2019 a 3 judge panel in Sofia, Bulgaria granted Jock Palfreeman parole! His release from prison is forthcoming!
**Update** – By the end of September the prosecutor appealed to have the parole overturned, so a court date was set for October 7th to allow the prosecutor to attempt to make the argument and of course Jock’s attorney has an opportunity to defend. Well, the court hearing took place and went on for 45 minutes before it was adjourned and now the judge has up to 2 months to make a decision. In the meantime Jock waits in a immigration detention center in Bulgaria.
**Update** – October 15th Jock Palfreeman has finally been released from the immigration detention center in Bulgaria! One hour before he was released officers went to his cell to take his passport stating he won’t be able to leave Bulgaria until a ban on him leaving the country is lifted.
Jock Palfreeman is an Australian anti-fascist political prisoner serving a twenty-year prison sentence in Bulgaria for the rather mysterious death of a neo-Nazi football hooligan who was part of a group attacking two Romani men in Sofia, Bulgaria in 2007. Jock came to the aid of the Romani, and quickly found himself the focus of the attack. Bulgarian authorities did everything they could to ensure that Jock did not receive a fair trial, and after his sentencing have refused–in contravention of their own treaties–to transfer him to Australia to serve the rest of his time closer to his family. Jock wants donations for him sent to the Bulgarian Prisoners’ Association, which he is part of.
He can read English and Bulgarian.
Address:Jock PalfreemanKazichene PrisonKazichene 1532Region PancherevoSofia, Bulgaria
http://www.brightonabc.org.uk/jock.html
Russia
Please note: Moscow ABC advises that letters in English are seldom accepted in Russian prisons, so please write only in Russian (try using a translation program), or just send photos and postcards.
Network
There are 10 individuals being held in what’s come to be known as the the ” Network ” case. Currently 7 are held in Penza who were given atrocious sentences on February 10th, 2020 and their sentences range from 6 to 18 years. The other 3 are being held in St. Petersburg and will be sentenced in the near future. There is a very thorough support site for these 10 anti fascists being held in captivity there in Russian complete with info on the case, bios for each indivual and ways you can support the brave indivulas who have endured so much already. Here is that support site , and the following is from that site:
“On the eve of the presidential election and the World Cup repressions began in Russia. Activists are being kidnapped, beaten up, electrocuted, forced to sign and learn investigative evidence, in which law enforcement investigation interested, by heart. Besides tortures and battery, detainees are threatened to be imprisoned for long time: secret services incriminate participation in mythical terrorist organization called “Network”. ”
Spain
Rodrigo Lanza
Rodrigo Lanza is an antifascist from Chile who is living in Zaragoza, Spain. In December of 2017, Rodrigo was out with friends at a bar when they were approached by a man who began insulting Rodrigo, calling him “sudaka” (a derogatory term for Latin Americans) and telling him to go back to his country. As Rodrigo attempted to leave the bar, Victor Lainez, a member of the fascist Falange group with many friends in the local fascist scene, pulled a knife. Rodrigo defended himself and in the ensuing fight, Lainez was killed.
Occurring during the movement for Catalan independence and the accompanying resurgence of hardcore Spanish nationalism, the press worked overtime to vilify Rodrigo as a ‘foreigner,’ squatter, and former political prisoner. They claimed that Lainez was attacked at random for wearing Spanish flag suspenders, and built a bogus narrative of an innocent Spanish citizen murdered simply for showing support for his country.
Rodrigo will soon go to trial and faces 25 years in prison, a €150,000 fine, as well as expulsion from Spain.
https://itsgoingdown.org/spanish-media-side-fascist-former-political-prisoner-arrested-hate-crime/
Update:
On November 15th, 2019 Rodrigo Lanza was convicted of reckless homicide after a week long trial. If he would’ve been convicted of murder he could have faced as much as 25 years, but instead on November 26th he was sentenced to 5 years. After already serving 2 years by the time of the trial Rodrigo could be out as early as June of 2020.
Update** After Rodrigo’s first trial the government petitioned for a retrial which they were granted and started on 9/8/2020. On 9/17/2020 the jury came back with a verdict after the 2nd trial was over that was ” guilty of murder” and the prosecutor asked for a sentence of 20 years. Sentencing is forthcoming. For a recap of the trial and analysis around the verdict, check out this aticle –
The gravity of the verdict that the jury came back with after the second trial was over cannot be overstated. Rodrigo Lanza has already been in prison for nearly 3 years while he’s been dealing with the case and could possibly be in prison for another 20. Let Rodrigo know just how much support he has from all over the world!
**Update Rodrigo Lanza did in fact get sentenced to the 20 years the government was requesting.
letters of support can be sent to:Rodrigo Lanza Huidobro Centro Penitenciario De Zuera Autovía A-23, Km 328 CP 50800, Zaragoza Spain
Italy
There was a wave of repression leading to 30 arrests in the area of Florence in the summer of 2017 after a rise of anarchist actions in that area over the previous year and a half. Three of those arrests were that of Ghespe, Giovanni, and Paska accused of placing a bomb at a fascist bookstore and meeting place in Florence. When a cop went to inspect the device it exploded and he was injured in the blast. The bookstore is called “Il Bargello” and is owned by the fascist group Casa Pound.
Unfortunately in July of this year these three comrades were convicted of the action at the fascist bookstore and sentences were recommended by the government but they are still awaiting a formal sentencing hearing. Paska and Giovanni are on house arrest while they wait and Ghespe(Salvatore Vespertino) is being held in a detention center. Here is his address for letters of support:
Salvatore Vespertino
cc Sollicciano via Minervini 2r 50142 Florence
Check the site for the Anarchist Black Cross chapter in Italy for updates