30/07/11
Climate activist Tim DeChristopher has been sentenced to two years in prison. He was taken into immediate custody and denied the typical 3 weeks afforded to put his affairs in order and say goodbye to his friends and family. This is just the latest element in what was clearly a political trial, one where prosecutors wanted the court to make an example of him in order to deter further such actions, citing his activities as justification in this stance, whilst the judge refused DeChristopher the opportunity to air those same views and motivations in his own defence.
25/07/11
Costa Ragusa, Billy Bernasconi and Silvia Guerini, three anarchist arrested in April last year, were sentenced at the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona, Switzerland on charges of “conspiracy to commit arson” and “illegal trafficking of explosives” stemming from an attempted attack on an IBM nanotechnology lab.
The charge of “illegal transport of explosives” fell apart since there was no solid evidence to corroborate any smuggling from Italy. Nevertheless, our comrades were sentenced to longer prison terms than those requested by the prosecutor.
Costa, 34, was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison, the longest sentence after the prosecution had labeled him the 'criminal mastermind' behind the planned attack. Billy, 26, was sentenced to three years and six months in prison, plus 22 days from a prior sentence and Silvia, 29, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison.
Each of the three sentences will be reduced by one year and three months, the amount of time the three had spent in pretrial detention.
12/07/11
Six comrades were recently found guilty in a trial for an alleged antifascist conspiracy. Two remain unsentenced at the time of posting and another potential trial of other comrades is outstanding so we are unable to elaborate on the case. We therefore ask anyone writing to the prisoners not to speculate about this in their communications with the six as letters may be read.
They are complaining about the poor food in the Scrubs, so would no doubt appreciate the odd postal order (made out to 'HMP Prison Services HQ' [previously had to be made out to 'the governor'], with the prisoners name and number together with your name on the back) to help supplement their diets from the prison canteen. Books can be sent from Amazon or directly from any other book distributor/shop. [see our advice on writing & sending things to prisoners]
UPDATE: Austen & Thomas have now been sentenced. [08/09/11]
Andy Baker (21 months)
A5768CE
HMP Highpoint,
Stradishall,
Newmarket,
Suffolk,
CR8 9YG [as of 9 August]
Thomas Blak (18 months)
A5728CE
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
PO Box 757
Du Cane Rd
London
W12 OAE
Sean Cregan (21 months)
A5769CE
HMP Coldingley,
Shaftesbury Road,
Bisley, Woking,
Surrey GU24 9EX [as of 5 August]
Phil De Sousa (21 months)
A5766CE
HMP Elmley
Church Road
Eastchurch
Sheerness
Kent
ME12 4DZ [as of 6 August]
Ravinder Gill (21 months)
A5770CE
HMP Wayland,
Griston,
Thetford,
Norfolk,
IP25 6RL [as of 9 August]
Austen Jackson (15 months)
A5729CE
HMP Wormwood Scrubs
PO Box 757
Du Cane Rd
London
W12 OAE
05/07/11
On the 24 June the Khimki city court sentenced Maxim Solopov to a
two years suspended sentence, with two years probation for
“hooliganism” (statute 213, paragraph 2 of Russian criminal codex) but
acquitted Alexei Gaskarov of all charges. Anti-fascist activists and
'Khimki hostages' Alexei Gaskarov and Maxim Solopov were accused of
organising a demonstration in the Moscow Suburb of Khimki on 28 July
2010 against the construction of the Moscow-St. Petersburg toll
highway. The judge in the case found that Solopov had thrown stones and
fired off an air pistol during the demonstration but is seeking leave
to appeal.
Alexei Gaskarov is pressing for rehabilitation and a monetary
compensation for the three months he spent in remand prison. Much of
the evidence in the trail was tainted, with at least on witness
withdrawing their police statement claiming that it was extracted under
undue psychological pressure during her interrogations. Much of the
rest of the evidence presented appeared to have been fabricated,
contradictory or copied from the same source.
Another Russian anti-fascist Denis Solopov, brother of Maxim Solopov
is currently under arrest in Kiev awaiting extradition and is currently
challenging a decision by the migration service in Kiev not to give him
a refugee status in Ukraine.
http://avtonom.org/en/news/one-khimki-hostage-acquired-another-one-got-2-years-suspended-sentence
25/06/11
On the 27th of May, judge Zhanna Khvoynitskaya sentenced the Belarusian
anarchists Ihar Alinevich, Mikalaj Dziadok, Aliaksandar Frantskievich,
Maxim Vetkin and Yeveni Slivonchik. The young men were accused of a
number of political actions, amongst which was the attack against the
Russian embassy in Minsk in August of 2010.
Ihar Alinevich was
accused of attacks against the Russian Embassy and Belarusbank
("Property destruction with intent", statute 218 paragraph 3 of the
Belarusian Criminal Codex), an attack against the remand prison of
Minsk (also statute 218, paragraph 2), an attack against a Casino and
an illegal demonstration at the military headquarters ("Aggravated
hooliganism", statute 339 paragraph 2 of Belarusian criminal codex).
The prosecutor asked for a 9 year sentence in hard regime, eventually
he received 8 years of hard regime (1).
Mikalaj Dziadok was sentenced
for actions against a Casino, the military headquarters and a
state-controlled trade union, all considered "aggravated hooliganism".
The prosecutor demanded a 6 year sentence of hard regime, he received
4.5 years of hard regime.
Aliaksandr Frantskievich was
sentenced for actions against state-controlled trade union, military
headquarters and a police station at Soligorsk, all considered
"aggravated hooliganism", and also against defacing website of city of
Novopolotsk ("Electronic sabotage", "Illegal access to electronic
information", "Development, using or spreading malware" (statute 349
paragraph 2, statute 351 paragraph 2, statute 354 of Belarusian
criminal codex). Prosecutor demanded a 5 year sentence, eventually he
received 3 years of hard regime.
Screenshots of the action are available here:
http://belarus.indymedia.org/20141
Maxim Vetkin was sentenced for
the actions taken at the BelarusBank and the Russian Embassy in Minsk.
He has been cooperating with the investigation and giving testimony
against the others. He was given a 4 year sentence in a low-security
prison according to the prosecutor's demands. He has been temporarily
released.
Yevgeni Silivonchik was
sentenced to 1.5 years in open regime prison for the attack in
Soligorsk. He has also cooperating with the investigation and giving
testimony against the other accused.
The accused have to compensate 100 million Belarusian rubles (around 20
000 dollars) in criminal damages to the respective institutions.
Alinevich, Dziadok and Frantskievich have been denying their
involvement, with the exception of the action at the military
headquarters. They are considering appealing their sentences, but the
appeal court may hand out even more severe sentences. The Strasbourg
court is not an option for the Belarusians, as Belarus is excluded from
the Council of Europe.
Anarchist Black Cross of Belarus considers the sentences politically
motivated, and the charges unproven. Besides this, all of the actions
for which the accused were sentenced, may be considered non-violent. No
living being was hurt as a consequence of the actions. Most of the
attacks were merely symbolical, and material damage was insignificant.
Reports from each day of the court are available on Belarussian Indymedia and at: http://www.avtonom.org/en/freebelarus.
"Defying the law", a documentary on the investigation and the court
cases against the Belarusian anarchists is available here:
http://rutube.ru/tracks/4469719.html
A version with English subtitles will be available in few days.
1. hard regime means less allowances in terms of visits, mails, and packages and other "privileges"
[Anarchist Black Cross Belarus]
Addition from ABC Moscow:
On the 18th of May, another “Anarchist case” ended in Belarus – Yawgen
Vaskovich, Paval Syramalotaw and Artsyom Prakapyenka were each given 7
year sentences for a direct action against the KGB building in the city
of Bobruysk. A problem with this case has been that although media
perceived the three as anarchists, none of them had any connections to
the existing anarchist movement and thus attempts to contact someone
close to them and provide them with support prior to the court dates
failed. Hopefully, support may be provided during their lengthy prison
sentences.
12/05/11
Gabriel Pombo da Silva's cell in the Aachen prison has been raided.
All of his CDs, DVDs and postcards with political slogans were taken
away. Furthermore, they took his free weights (which were approved), as
well as his typewriter. In addition, personal photos were taken from
him. No specific reasons were given. His lawyer has been informed.
Gabriel is very angry and would appreciate support.
Write to him:
Gabriel Pombo da Silva
JVA Aachen
Krefeld Str 251
52070 Aachen
14/04/11
Were you at the student demos in December 2010 or the 26th March anti-cuts demo?
Did you witness anyone being arrested?
Did you film or photograph any arrests?
Many people are now facing criminal charges and we urgently need to find witnesses to help in their defence.
Please get in touch now: ldmgmail@yahoo.co.uk
Legal Defence & Monitoring Group
Website: www.ldmg.org.uk
Postal address: LDMG, C/o BM Haven, London WC1N 3XX
13/04/11
The following prisoners are all on remand accused of membership of an
illegal organisation and some specific individual charges relating to
attacks attributed to anarchists over the last few years. This
information is correct as of April 2011.
Mónica Caballero: on hunger
strike since the 21st Feb 2011. So far 180 days on remand. Prosecutors
seeking 10 year sentence for membership of an illegal organisation and
10 years for being linked to a bomb attack on a church in 2009.
Andrea Urzúa: on hunger strike
since the 21st Feb 2011. So far 180 days on remand. Prosecutors seeking
10 year sentence for membership of an illegal organisation.
Pablo Morales: on hunger strike
since the 21st Feb 2011. So far 180 days on remand. Prosecutors
effectively seeking a 20 year minumum sentence for being an alleged
leader of the "illegal organisation".
Rodolfo Retamales: on hunger
strike since the 21st Feb 2011. So far 180 days on remand. Prosecutors
effectively seeking a 20 year minumum sentence for being an alleged
leader of the "illegal organisation".
Vinicio Aguilera: on hunger
strike since the 21st Feb 2011. So far 180 days on remand. Prosecutors
seeking 10 year sentence for membership of an illegal organisation.
Felipe Guerra: on hunger
strike since the 21st Feb 2011. So far 180 days on remand. Prosecutors
seeking 10 year sentence for membership of an illegal organisation and
10 years for being linked to a bomb attack on a police station in 2009.
Carlos Riverosp: on hunger
strike since the 21st Feb 2011. So far 180 days on remand. Prosecutors
seeking 10 year sentence for membership of an illegal organisation plus
3 years for being the alleged financier of the association.
Camilo Pérez: on hunger strike
since the 21st Feb 2011. So far 180 days on remand. Prosecutors seeking
10 year sentence for membership of an illegal organisation.
Francisco Solar: on hunger
strike since the 21st Feb 2011. So far 180 days on remand. Prosecutors
seeking 10 year sentence for membership of an illegal organisation plus
15 years for being linked to bomb attacks on the National Intelligence
Agency in 2007 and an electricity company in 2007.
Omar Hermosilla: on hunger
strike since the 21st Feb 2011. So far 180 days on remand. Prosecutors
seeking 10 year sentence for membership of an illegal organisation plus
3 years for being the alleged financier of the association.
Cristián Cancino: Bailed with strict conditions, but prosecutors seeking 10 year sentence for membership of an illegal organisation.
Diego Morales: Bailed with strict conditions, but prosecutors seeking 10 year sentence for membership of an illegal organisation.
Candelaria Cortez: Bailed
with strict conditions, but prosecutors seeking 10 year sentence for
membership of an illegal organisation plus 10 years for being linked to
a bomb attack on a car dealership in 2007.
Iván Goldenberg: Bailed with strict conditions, but prosecutors seeking 540 days for possesion of and carrying an illegal firearm.
More info:
http://santiaskoanarquista.noblogs.org/
http://libertadalos14a.blogspot.com
07/04/11
Anti-fascist Rinat Sultanov has been sentenced in St. Petersburg to
two years in prison, for causing “grievous bodily ham to a Nazi during
a fight, which took place 4th of November (“Day of national
unification”, main convergence day of Russian Nazis) three years ago.
He is due to be transfered to a prison camp to his home region to do
remainder of his sentence.
Source: https://avtonom.org/en/node/15414
05/04/11
June 11th Day of Solidarity with Eric McDavid and Marie Mason and Long-Term Anarchist Prisoners
June 11th began as an international day of solidarity with long-term
anarchist prisoner Jeff "Free" Luers in 2004. At the time, Jeff was
serving 22+ years. Infuriated by the environmental devastation he saw
occurring on a global scale, Free torched three SUVs at a car
dealership in Eugene, OR. The sentence imposed on him was meant to send
a clear message to others who were angered by capitalism's continued
war on the Earth's ecosystems – and to those who were willing to take
action to put a stop to it. Free is, after all, not alone in his
concerns about climate change, fossil fuels, pollution and genetically
modified organisms.
After years of struggle, Jeff and his legal team won a reduction in
his sentence and he was released from prison in December 2009. But in
the years intervening Jeff's arrest and release, the FBI had carried
out a series of indictments and arrests in an attempt to devastate the
radical environmental and anarchist communities. Two of the people
caught up in this maelstrom of repression were Eric McDavid and Marie
Mason.
Eric McDavid was arrested in January 2006 after being entrapped by a
paid government informant - "Anna" - and was charged with a single
count of conspiracy. Eric – who never carried out any actions and was
accused of what amounts to “thought crime” - refused to cooperate with
the state and took his case to trial. After a trial fraught with
errors, the jury convicted Eric. He was subsequently sentenced to
almost 20 years in prison. More information on Eric's case can be found
at: www.supporteric.org
Marie Mason was arrested in March 2008 after her former partner -
Frank Ambrose - turned informant for the FBI. Facing a life sentence if
she went to trial, Marie accepted a plea bargain in September 2008,
admitting her involvement in the burning of an office connected to GMO
research and the destruction of a piece of logging equipment. At her
sentencing in February the following year, she received a sentence of
almost 22 years. More information on Marie's case can be found at: www.supportmariemason.org
Marie and Eric now share the unfortunate distinction of having the
longest standing sentences of any environmental prisoners in the United
States.
Please join us in an International Day of Solidarity with Long-Term
Anarchist Prisoners Marie Mason and Eric McDavid on June 11th. This is
a time to remember our friends who are in prison – who are continuing
their struggles on the inside. This is a time to continue and
strengthen the very work for which Eric and Marie are now serving so
much time - to struggle against capitalism, ecological devastation, and
the ever more diffuse forms of control in this prison society.
Free Marie and Eric!
Free all prisoners!
Please be in touch:
june11thsolidarity@gmail.com
27/03/11
Defendants' meeting - Saturday 2 April - 2pm - University of London Student Union, Malet Street, WC1E 7HY.
Were you either charged with an offence or bailed to return to a
police station soon? We know it's a worrying time and information can
be difficult to come by. We also know from previous experience that it
can be isolating and intimidating. The best way to deal with this is to
meet others in the same position as yourself and stick together. The
police want you to feel isolated and alone - but meeting and talking
with other people facing the same pressures, and working together, can
make everyone stronger. So, we are calling a DEFENDANTS' MEETING on
Saturday 2 April - 2pm - University of London Student Union, Malet
Street, WC1E 7HY
It could help your case to attend and it will definitely help your
confidence. This is a meeting for DEFENDANTS ONLY. If you are not a
defendant or accompanying a defendant you WILL be asked to leave.
If you haven't been arrested, but you are worried you MAY yet be
arrested, or if your face has been publicised as somebody the police
want to question, it's probably best to stay away. BUT don't be put off
from coming if you have already been arrested: attending meetings does
not breach your bail conditions.
There will be people with legal knowledge, and we can talk about
police use of bail conditions. But, the major part of the meeting will
be for defendants to come together and decide if they want a defence
campaign, and if so, what type of campaign they want: campaigns like
this need to be led by the defendants themselves.
Please pass this on to anybody you know who may have been arrested
and charged or on police bail, and please circulate as widely as
possible, to anybody who may know of anybody arrested.
Above all - DON'T BE AFRAID! Many people support you and are willing
to help, some of us have been in this position ourselves in the past.
The police are not all-powerful, they can be challenged, and even
getting charged does not mean you will be convicted. Defence campaigns
in the past have helped people to win in court, and helped to win
support for people facing charges.
This meeting is being organised by the Legal Defence and Monitoring Group (www.ldmg.org.uk) and the Green & Black Cross (www.greenandblackcross.org).
21/02/11
Marie's mail is one again being disrupted by prison authorities
(though they deny this) with letters and parcels 'mysteriously'
disappearing, neither being officially refused by Carswell prison nor
returned to sender. Additionally, all requests for visits except for
her immediate family are being refused.
So, if you have written Mason and are not sure if she has received
your communication, please contact her support campaign at:
supportmariemason@gmail.com
09/02/11
Briana is accused of conspiracy to commit offense or defraud the US,
possessing an unregistered firearm, arson of a building used in
interstate commerce or in activity affecting interstate commerce, using
a destructive device during a crime of violence, and arson of a
building belonging to an institution receiving federal financial
assistance.
The use of a destructive device charge alone carries a 30 year
minimum sentence. Trial is currently set for June 27, 2011 - although
this date will almost certainly be pushed back.
Briana was one of the Greenscare defendants from Operation Backfire
who refused a plea bargain. Found guilty in 2008, she was sentenced to
6 years but had her conviction overturned on appeal the following year.
09/02/11
Rinat Sultanov is a Russian Anti-fascist prisoner arrested in St.
Petersburg on 3 November, on the eve of yet another “Day of People’s
Unity”, the favourite Russian state holiday of the fascists, after a
siege of apartment of anti-fascists which lasted several hours. He is
accused according to statute 111 of Russian criminal codex, of
“Grievous bodily harm, caused with an intent”, for a fight with local
fascists, which took place in autumn of year 2008.
Rinat is born from the city of Labytnangi of the far-northern
Siberia. Few years ago he moved to St. Petersburg, and immediately took
active part to the local anti-fascist movement. He was involved in both
setting up anti-fascist websites and street activities. He considers
himself as an anarchist and RASH-skinhead.
Currently Sultanov is remanded to Remand prison №4 of St.
Petersburg. Right now support group does not need material help,
however it is important to support Rinat with letters during the remand
imprisonment!
You may write to:
Rinat Sultanov
FBU IZ-47\4,
ul. Lebedeva d. 39,
195009 Saint-Petersburg, Russia.
31/01/11
All the Thessaloniki 4 defendants have been found not guilty except
for minor charges in 3 of the cases, with Fernando being found not
guilty on all counts. The remaining three were found guilty on a
reduced charge, “minor defiance of authority”, and given a 6-month
suspended sentence each. Michalis remains in prison on other charges.
26/01/11
Anarchist prisoner Marco Camenisch has been transferred to another
prison for the second time in six months. This time he has been moved
to Lenzburg in Aargau. We don't yet know the reason for this. But it is
clear, that for prisoners each transfer means great stress: new
situation, new regime, new harassment. Marco needs our solidarity! He
has been as a political prisoner for almost 20 years.
Send your letters in solidarity to:
Marco Camenisch
Justizvollzugsanstalt Lenzburg
Postfach 75
5600 Lenzburg
Switzerland
For a society without prisons!
Friends and Supporters of Marco Camenisch, January 2011
knast-soli@riseup.net
03/01/11
Siddique Abdullah Hasan (Carlos Sanders), Namir Abdul Mateen (James
Were), Bomani Hando Shakur (Keith Lamar) & Jason Robb, four of the
Lucasville Five have today commenced a rolling hunger strike to demand
that they be placed on Death Row rather than be held in solitary
confinement, and help allow them to initiate a campaign that will
hopefully lead to executive clemency being granted. They, along with
George Skatzes (currently held under suicide watch in medical
facilities in Mansfield Correctional Institution and not able to
participate in the hunger strike), were convicted of participating in
the killing of other prisoners and a guard during the Lucasville prison
riot of April 1993, the longest prison rebellion in United States
history.
The Five were singled out by the authorities and framed for the
deaths because they acted as negotiators between black and white
prisoners in a tense and potentially incendiary stand-off between the
different groups [see 'Overcoming racism: the Lucasville rebellion'
for more background]. They then became spokespersons for all the
prisoners as they united against the prison authorities, ultimately
negotiating an end to the ten-day stand off. Singled out as ringleaders
and charged with the murders, they refused all plea bargains and were
sentenced to death mainly on the evidence of prisoners offered early
release in return for their testimonies.
Like all troublesome prisoners (cf. Angola 3 and an almost endless
list), they have remained in solitary confinement for their almost
their entire sentences and are now demanding an end to this 'cruel and
unusual punishment' by being placed on death row where they can at
least have some form of human contact other than the guards in solitary.
For more information see: 'An interview with author Staughton Lynd' and 'If We Must Die', a statement by Bomani Shakur.
18/01/11
The three members of the Lucasville Five, Siddique Abdullah Hasan
(Carlos Sanders), Bomani Hando Shakur (Keith Lamar) & Jason Robb
[Namir Abdul Mateen (James Were) had been too ill to participate], who
had been on hunger strike since 3 January have won most of their
demands. It now appears that they, and all 120 prisoners held under the
"administrative maximum security" designation, the most restricted
section of Death Row at the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown, will
be allowed "semi-contact" visits with family members, additional
recreation time, access to computer-based legal research, phone
privileges up to one hour per day and the opportunity to purchase more
items from the commissary, including food and clothing. All changes,
except the visitation rights (to come on 1 February), are effective
immediately.
03/01/11
Today the final sentence at the court of appeals for comrade Giannis
Dimitrakis was announced. The sentence is 12.5 years of imprisonment
(less than the 35 years he got at the first trial).
All together he was found guilty for the robbery in the national
bank on Solonos str, (7 years imprisonment), guilty for mental support
in the attempted homicide of the guard of the bank (6 years
imprisonment), guilty for participating in a gang (4 years
imprisonment), guilty for using a gun (2 years imprisonment). He was
not recognized with
mitigation but with the combination of the sentences the final
sentence is 12.5 years. The sentence he has to serve is 3/5 so Giannis
Dimitrakis has to serve 7.5 years. He has already served almost 5 years.
The room was full of supporters, that burst out in slogans and clapping
after the announcement of the decision. The presence of the cops
was discreet without EKAM (greek special forces) and masked ones as at
previous trials. The speeches and points made of the defence lawyers
were remarkable and they didn't speak of a "victory" of course but for a
"proportional sentence that corresponds the charges"
The comrade was led again to prison with his fists raised and in the
next days he is expected to be led to Domokos prison from the prisons
of Koridallos where he was kept temporarily for the trial.
International Day of Action for Jock Palfreeman
22/12/10
www.anarchistsolidarity.wordpress.com
Background- Jock Palfreeman is
a 23 year old Australian who had the courage to
stand up against 16 Nazis on a night out in Sofia, Bulgaria. He
witnessed the fascists chasing and attacking two young Roma boys. Jock
ran to the boys' aid, he did his best to keep the Nazis at bay by
waving a knife at them but they attacked him. Jock was left with
nowhere to run and had no choice but to defend himself. One of the
Nazis was stabbed and killed and another was injured. The Roma boys ran
away.
Jock has since been tried and sentenced for murder and attempted
murder. He has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and has been
fined £220,000. [More details of his case can be found below or at
www.freejock.com.]
What you can do:
-write to Jock – letters help him survive this difficult time and
keep
his spirits high:
Jock Palfreeman,
Sofia Central Prison, 21 General Stoletov Boulevard,
Sofia 1309, BULGARIA
- Organise solidarity actions outside Bulgarian embassies,
consulates
etc.- use your creativity !
-Write
messages of protest to Bulgarian authorities. We include sample letter,
but you are welcome to write your own message.
Sample message:
To whom it may concern
We are writing in regards to Australian national Jock Palfreeman
currently
imprisoned in Bulgaria. Palfreeman had been sentenced to 20 years of
prison for defending a passer-by and later on, himself from a vicious
attack by a group of drunken football hooligans. As a result one of the
attackers died and another got injured. Despite it being a clear case
of self-defence and his version of events being supported by numerous
witnesses, his trial was a farce. Anything working in favour of his
defence was completely ignored by the judge.
We demand that
Bulgarian authorities grant him appeal and that he will be acquitted of
murder charges. We will be watching the next actions of the Bulgarian
Ministry of Justice. We will not rest until Jock Palfreeman will get
his appeal and acquitted from those absurd charges.
Addresses to send your protests:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria
Address: 2, Aleksandar Zhendov Str., Sofia 1040, Bulgaria
Tel.: +359 2 948 2999
Information, Public Relations and European Communication Directorate
Director: Sofia Vladimirova
Tel.: +359 2 971 14 08, 971 37 78, 948 22 18
Fax: +359 2 870 30 41
e-mail: iprd@mfa.government.bg
Ministry's Reception Desk
Tel.: +359 2 948 20 18, 971 10 54
In the work days from 9.30 to 12.00 h and from 14.00 to 16.00 h
Ministry of Justice:
pr@justice.government.bg
22/02/11
We have just heard that Jock Palfreeman has lost his appeal case
against his 20-year jail sentence for killing a Nazi in self defence...
He has 14 days to appeal. More information on his case is given above.
You can sign a petiton in support of Jock here:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/freejock/
https://avtonom.org/en/node/14664
Jock's statement following the decision:
To say I’m disappointed would be an understatement. But I am not
disappointed in the Monov family’s demands for unjustified punishment.
I am disappointed in the judges and legal structure that seems to have
the moral backbones of jellyfish. When I saw the 15 men attack the two
homeless men, I was presented with a choice. Stand back and let the
injustice continue or intervene in an attempt to save human life. The
Sofia city court and the Sofia court of appeal were all presented with
a much easier choice than that. Their choice was not one that could
result in their own deaths as mine was. Yet still they chose to take
the easy way. They chose to bow to the political pressure from the
Bulgarian Socialist Party and it’s bureaucrats that float around the
Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Justice like bad smell. Although
this latest decision keeps me with a 20-year prison sentence, it is
useful as evidence to show the depth and width of corruption in the
Bulgarian courts and justice system. As disheartening as this blatantly
corrupt decision is, we all must take encouragement from the 10 neutral
witnesses who did have the moral backbone to come forward and tell the
truth. Also from the 5 police who too eventually told the truth despite
overwhelming pressures from their superiors. To all those who fight
against racism, nationalism, corruption and injustice, I tell you not
to loose focus or direction. Do not loose hope. Those who wish to hide
the shame that the 15 skinheads brought on Bulgaria have only been
successful in increasing it and legalizing it. Ironically Andrei Monov
was not ashamed of his nationalism and I doubt he would have lied about
actions he and his family are clearly proud of. “Bulgaria for
Bulgarians” was what Dr Monov said he and his son believed in.
“Defending the underdog” is what I believe in, be it Bulgaria or
Bangladesh. The supreme court of appeal will not remedy the injustice.
The head judge of the supreme court of appeal was even present at
Andrei Monovs funeral. My prison sentence although outrageous, will be
served easier now that the evidence is overwhelmingly in concurrence
with my statements and that I know I was correct in opposing racism in
it’s most disgusting form, violence. My gratitude to my family, friends
and comrades who have not supported me as an individual but supported
me based on the evidence in my case and the reason for my involvement
with the 15 skinheads.
Jock Palfreeman
30/07/11
Bulgaria’s Supreme Court of Cassation dismissed a second and possibly final bid by Jock Palfreeman to have his 20-year sentence for murder overturned, upholdong the original verdict and sentence. Lawyers for the Palfreeman family now say they may look to taking the matter to the European Courts.
