You may have noticed recently that some of our usually reliable prisoners listings have been a little out of date. This is due to a current shortage in our group numbers and increasing commitments to other projects. You can help by sending any updates/contributions to the listings that you come across. Thanks in advance. In solidarity. Brighton ABC.

PS: Check out Prisonersolidarity.com, the Los Angeles ABCF-run anarchist and class struggle prisoners listing wiki resource.

Europe Rest of the World

UK and IRELAND

John Paul Wootton, HM Prison Maghaberry, 17 Old Road, Lisburn, BT28 2PT, UK. [Correct as of: 01/06/20]

John Paul Wootton is a vegan anarchist prisoner and IWW/IWOC member, wrongfully convicted of the murder of a police officer in the "Craigavon 2" case, after a trial before a "Diplock" court, a secret military court with no jury. The case has been supported as a miscarriage of justice by high profile campaigners, legal experts & human rights activists. The prosecution used discredited witnesses, inconclusive forensics, and tampered evidence to secure a conviction that does not stand up to scrutiny. Security services destroyed evidence, intimidated witnesses and defence lawyers.

Describing the case in his own words, he says:

"My name is John Paul Wootton and I am now twenty years of age and I have been imprisoned in Maghaberry prison for the last three years, that is, from I was 17 years of age.

On the 10th of March 2009, while still a teenager, I was arrested and interrogated for thirteen days in relation to the fatal shooting of Constable Steven Carroll in Craigavon on the 9th of March 2009. From the outset of this period of interrogation I made it clear that I neither knew nor had any part in this incident and indeed the duration of my interrogation was only ended when my legal representative took out a legal injunction.

On the 30th of March 2012, after a trial before a Diplock court, I was convicted and sentenced to a life sentence for the killing of Constable Carroll on the basis of a tracking device that had been fitted to my car at some point and which allegedly placed me at the scene of the shooting. However, the device in question, which had been placed there by members of MI5, went missing for a period of time and when it was finally recovered portions of the data allegedly recorded on the device were missing! These ‘gaps’ were supposedly filled by an MI5 operative who gave his evidence at the trial anonymously from behind a screen and his explanation for the data going missing was that, ‘he had left it on his desk and someone had moved and then replaced it without his knowledge’!

Additional to the missing data, the examination of my car, during the period of the missing data, also produced a brown coat that had particles of gun powder residue on it. These particles did not match the rifle or ammunition recovered by the PSNI that was claimed by the prosecution to have been the weapon that fired the fatal shot which killed Constable Carroll. This coat, which was a central piece of evidence in the case, not only did not belong to me but it had no physical connection to me, that is, no traces of my DNA, fibres or fingerprints were found on the coat. In short, there was no physical evidence presented to the trial that linked me to this shooting rather a process of speculation and hypothesis that turned the legal principle of innocence until proven guilty on its head was applied.

During the trial my legal team attempted to tease out the anomalies of this case to demonstrate the complete lack of evidence against me, however, at each attempt they were met with the barrier of ‘Public Interest Immunity Orders’ being sought and granted to the prosecution. As a result of this crucial lines of inquiry about the movements of my car and the particles on the coat were denied to my defence.

As a consequence of all of the above I have instructed my legal team to appeal the conviction against me on the grounds that I did not receive a fair trial for the following reasons;

1. I was refused the right to a trial by jury and instead I was tried by a single judge in a Diplock court,
2. This single judge in the absence of any physical evidence against me resorted to negative inference and opinion,
3. Evidence which may have assisted my defence or undermined the case against me was kept hidden from my legal team through the use of Public Interest Immunity Orders,
4. Several witnesses were granted anonymity thereby preventing the defence from properly cross examining them.

I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this short description of what has happened to me and I would ask you to do all that you can to highlight this miscarriage of justice in the hope that I will get the chance of a fair trial at my appeal."

https://justiceforthecraigavontwo.wordpress.com/

Samantha Faulder, A1209CF, HMP Foston Hall, Foston, Derby, Derbyshire, DE65 5DN. [Correct as of: 22/09/19]
Sam Faulder is an anarchist prisoner currently serving a life sentence in England. Sam is a miscarriage of justice who has done over ten years in the prison system.

She has been an anti-authoritarian her whole life and was relentlessly targeted by police because of her lifestyle choices. After serving nearly two years on remand, Sam’s trial was a disaster. Police corruption impacted her trial and her solicitor firm withdrew from her case three weeks before it began. Her need to appeal coincided with cuts to legal-aid and she has been trapped in the prison system ever since. She is now working with Cardiff University’s Innocence Project on her appeal. Learn more about her case and appeal here: http://freedomforsam.org/about/

About Sam’s health: After ten years experiencing every abuse imaginable, Sam was sadly diagnosed with cancer in 2016. She has still not had treatment. She has experienced intense medical neglect while being imprisoned in a for-profit prison, HMP Peterborough, run by Sodexo. Read the full story of her cancer situation here: http://freedomforsam.org/sams-cancer-timeline/

Support Sam needs:

Please send letters and cards with solidarity messages
http://freedomforsam.org/what-you-can-do/
Please donate to her support fund: http://freedomforsam.org/donate/
Organise actions and dedicate them to Sam, this will mean the world to her!
Pay attention to the website for action alerts about her treatment
Share her story online

For more info please email: bristol_abc[at]riseup.net

John Bowden - John was finally released on March 25th after nearly 38 years in prison. We will continue to be supporting him in the coming months. [Updated: 27/03/20]

John Bowden, convicted in 1982 for a brutal murder, has spent his entire adult life in prison. Politicised by his incarceration he's regularly paid the price for his resistance through long periods of isolation, beatings and treatment amounting to torture. He has never been broken and is one of the UK's most articulate and vociferous prison writers and a powerful advocate of prisoner's rights.

Some of John's prison writings can be read elsewhere on our site: Writings by John Bowden
or can be downloaded in collected form from ABC Hurricane here:
PDF: Screen Version
PDF: Print Version A4

Kevan Thakrar, A4907AE, HMP Full Sutton, Moor Lane, York, YO41 1PS, UK. [correct as of: 55/09/19]
Kevan Thakrar was wrongly convicted of murder and attempted murder in 2008 using multiple hearsay evidence under 'joint enterprise', the legal rule which means that any member of a group can be convicted of a crime, regardless of whether they played any role in it. Kevan wasn't present when the murder took place, but he was sentenced to life with a minimum of 35 years in jail. He was aged just 20.
Kevan has been consistently subjected to vengeful abuse and violence from prison guards for speaking out about his and other prisoners treatment. In March 2010 Kevan was charged with assaulting three prison officers in HMP Frankland, but was subsequently found not guilty of the assault in a landmark legal acquittal, where the finger of blame was instead pointed directly back at the Prison Service, whose regime of racism and violence was clearly exposed throughout the four-week trial.
Despite being found not guilty Kevan has been held ever since in solitary confinement in the notorious Close Supervision Centres, the UK equivalent to the F.I.E.S. regime in Spain, and the Supermax in the US. The ‘Prisons within the Prisons’ exist to facilitate the suppression, mental breakdown and murder of those who rebel within the prison system, those who ask too many questions, complain too many times, lash out in frustration, or are irreducible. Despite all this, Kevan continues to speak out about the injustices suffered there by himself and other prisoners around him.

For more information about his case:
http://justiceforkevan.com/
www.facebook.com/JusticeForKev

or see our page of writings about and by Kevan

BELARUS

Anti-Lukashenko Protests

Denis Boltut, SIZO, 22A, Sovetskaya St., Zhodino, 222163, Belarus. [Correct as of: 06/12/20]

Denis Boltut is an antifascist and fan of the MTZ-RIPO football club. He was detained after the protests on September 23 against Lukashenko’s inauguration. Denis was charged with 342 part 1 (organisation and preparation of actions grossly violating public order, or active participation in them).

Tamaz Pipiya, SIZO, 22A, Sovetskaya str., Zhodino, 222163, Belarus. [Correct as of: 06/12/20]

Tamaz Pipa is an antifascist from Minsk and a fan of the football club "MTZ-RIPO“. He was detained on September 25 under suspicion of organising mass riots on September 23 during the inauguration of Lukashenko. The charges were brought under part 1 of article 293 (organisation of mass riots). He is being held in a pre-trial detention center in Zhodzina.

Timur Pipiya, SIZO, 22A, Sovetskaya str., Zhodino, 222163, Belarus. [Correct as of: 06/12/20]

Timur Pipiya is an antifascist from Minsk and a fan of the football club "MTZ-RIPO“. He was detained on September 25 under suspicion of organising mass riots on September 23 during Lukashenko’s inauguration. He was charged under part 1 of article 342 (organisation and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order or active participation in them). He is being held in the pre-trial detention center of Zhodzina.

Vitaliy Shishlov [Shishlov Vitaly Vyacheslavovich], SIZO, 22A, Sovetskaya str., Zhodino, 222163, Belarus. [Correct as of: 06/12/20]

Vitaliy Shishlov is an antifascist and fan of "MTZ-RIPO“ football club. He was detained on September 23 during protests against Lukashenko’s inauguration. Vitaly was charged under Art. 364 (violence or threat of violence against an officer of internal affairs) and Art. 293.1 (organisation of mass riots).

Andrei Chepyuk [Chepyuk Andrei], SIZO-1, 2 Volodarskogo St., Minsk, 220030, Belarus. [Correct as of: 06/12/20]

Andrei Chepyuk is an anarchist from Minsk, volunteer of the Human Rights Center "Vesna“. He was detained in Minsk on August 2 by GUBOP. On October 9 Andrey was charged under part 2 of article 293 of the Criminal code – "participation in mass riots“. He is being held in pre-trial detention center-1 of Minsk.

Ivan Krasovsky [Krasovskiy Ivan], SIZO-1, 2 Volodarskogo St., Minsk, 220030, Belarus. [Correct as of: 06/12/20]

Ivan Krasovsky is a Belarusian anarchist who was detained on September 24 in Minsk. A criminal case under article 293.2 was brought against Ivan – participation in mass riots (from three to eight years). He is now in pre-trial detention center № 1 in Minsk.
Ivan had initially been detained on August 12 when, after being severely beaten by GUBOPIK and OMON officers, he ended up in hospital. Due to injuries of varying severity, he had to use the wheelchair for two weeks.

Akihiro Gaevsky-Hanada, ul. Volodarskogo 2, SIZO-1, Minsk 220030, Belarus.

Akihiro is an anarchist from Minsk detained on August 12, 2020 with Aliaksandr Frantskevich and accused under part 2 of article 293 of the Criminal Code – "participation of mass riots". Akihiro was beaten during his arrest and detention and is being held in SIZO-1 in Minsk.

Belarus Anarchist Partisans

Dzmitry Dubovski,
Sergey Romanov [Romanov Sergey Alexandrovich],
Ihar Alinevich [Ihar Alinevich Vladimirovich],
Dzmitry Rezanovich [Rezanovich Dzmitry Grigorevich],
Glavpochtamp, P.O. Box 8, Minsk, 220050, Belarus. [Correct as of: 06/12/20]

Belarus anarchists Dzmitry Dubovski, Sergey Romanov, Ihar Alinevich and Dzmitry Rezanovich were arrested on the night between 28 and 29 October 2020 in Belarus close to Ukrainian border by Belarusian border guards. Allegedly charged with terrorism and illegal possession of firearm. According to prosecutors office the four comrades organised several arson attacks in Soligorsk and Mozir against state institutions. Right now they are all being held in KGB Prison in Minsk.
[see: https://abc-belarus.org/?p=13484&lang=en]

Igor Banzer [Bantser Igor], ul. Kirova 1, Turma-1, Grodno 230023, Belarus. [Correct as of: 06/12/20]

Igor Banzer is an antifascist, musician and anarchist from Grodno. He was detained on October 20 in Grodno. He was charged under part 1 of article 339 (hooliganism) for performance in front of a cop car. He is now being held in the pre-trial detention center of Grodno.

Mikita Yemelyanau (Yemelyanov Nikita Vladimirovich), ul. Krupskoy 99A, ST-4, 212011 Mogilev, Belarus. [Correct as of: 06/12/20]

An anarchist from Minsk, he was detained on October 19, 2019together with Ivan Komar on suspicion of attempted arson at a Minsk pretrial detention centre (article 295-3 "Illegal actions with combustible substances“ and article 344 "Intentional destruction or damage of historical and cultural values“) in solidarity with Dzmitry Palijenka, who was being held there under arrest at that time. Later the charges were also brought for another unsuccessful attack on the same pretrial detention centre (article 295-3 "Illegal actions with combustible substances“ and article 344 "Intentional destruction or damage to historical and cultural property“), as well as for throwing paint at the Minsk city court in solidarity with Dzmitry Palijenka (article 341 "Desecration of buildings and destruction of property“).
On February 12, 2020 Mikita Yemelyanau and Ivan Komar were found guilty and sentenced to 7 years of prison each.
On March 27, 2020, the appellate court commuted the sentence of Mikita Yemelyanau to 4 years, that of Ivan Komar – to 3.5 years of imprisonment.
Ivan Komar bears false witness against Yemelyanau, so ABC groups are not supporting him.

[link]

See also: abc-belarus.org/ for up-to-date news on Belarus prisoners. Also, you can send on-line letters to Belarusian prisoners via the website.

BULGARIA

Jock Palfreeman is a 29-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. Andrey Monov, one of the Nazis, was stabbed and killed and another, Antoan Zahariev 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 375,000 Australian dollars.
UPDATE: Jock was finally granted parole in September 2019 but Bulgaria’s prosecutor general, Sotir Tsatsarov, appealed the decision to grant him parole. Following a period in immigration detention, he was finnally released on October 15th. However, he remains in limbo, the Bulgarian authorities having confiscated his new Australian passport and he must report to police once a week until a ban on his leaving the country is formally lifted.
www.facebook.com/Jock-Palfreeman
Bulgarian Prisoners Association

FRANCE

Claudio Lavazza, ecrou 445097 D5-2G-₵44, MAH de Fleury-Mérogis, 7 Avenue des Peupliers, 91700 Fleury-Mérogis, France. [correct as of: 14/11/19]
Claudio has been taken from Spain to France, at his own request, to stand trial on a series of charges (particularly a 1986 attack on a branch of the Bank of France) being pressed by the courts of Paris. Claudio was tried in his abscene originally, receiving the maximum sentence for those charges (as established by French law in case of absence in order to avoid the offence going through the statute of limitations); so in the coming months a proper trial will be held and when it’s over he will be taken back to Spain to serve the accumulated sentences there.
UPDATE: Claudio was sentenced to 10 years in prison on November 7, 2019 for his part in the 1986 robbery.

Vincenzo Vecchi, [released after extradition refused. 15/11/19]
Anarchist Vincenzo Vecchi, who was sentenced to 13 years and 3 months in connection with the Genoa G8 portests in 2001 (later reduced to 11 years and 6 months on appeal), was wanted from 2012 until 8 August 2019, when he was arrested in Brittany, France, thanks to joint work of the French and Italian police, with the contribution of the Italian 'anti-terrorism'; has not yet been extradited because, during some hearings in which the court of Rennes dealt with immediate extradition (requested by the Italian State on the basis of the two international arrest warrants issued by the prosecutors of Genoa and Milan), the French judges considered that the documents provided by the Italian justice system were insufficient to allow the transfer to Italy so, for the moment, he remains in prison in France. [correct as of :10/11/19.]

GERMANY

Thomas Meyer Falk, c/o JVA (SV-Abtlg.), Hermann-Herder-Str. 8, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany. [Updated: 20/08/18]
In 1996, Thomas was sent down for eleven and a half years for bank robbery. Because of his strong beliefs, he's been subject to very harsh repression - kept in solitary, daily cell raids, suppression and censorship of mail, no access to education. In 2007, he was finally been moved out of solitary and was able to participate in education and other activities. He has applied for parole on a number of occasions since then but has always been turned down. At the end of June 2013, the District Court of Karlsruhe decided that Thomas was still a "danger" to the community and he is now being held in preventive detention.

For more info email: [email protected]
or see https://freedomforthomas.wordpress.com/thomas-meyer-falk/

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.

UPDATE: On July 8, 2016, the Koridallos prison court – presided over by special judge Asimina Yfanti – convicted all members of the anarchist revolutionary organisation Conspiracy of Cells of Fire (CCF) – Gerasimos Tsakalos, Christos Tsakalos, Giorgos Polydoros, Olga Ekonomidou, Theofilos Mavropoulos, Panayiotis Argyrou, Giorgos Nikolopoulos, Michalis Nikolopoulos, Damiano Bolano, and Haris Hatzimihelakis – to 115 years in prison each.
Angeliki Spyropoulou sentenced to 28 years in prison. Athena Tsakalou and Evi Statiri found not guilty. Christos Polydoros given 6 year suspended sentence. Christos Rodopoulos sentenced to 75 years in prison. Christodoulos Xiros sentenced to 65 years in prison. Fabio Dusko sentenced to 8 years in prison. Four other defendants sentenced to 27-28 years in prison each. Four other defendants were acquitted of membership in the organisation but received a 6-year suspended sentence. Two other defendants were found guilty of misdemeanor offences and another two were found not guilty.

Christos Rodopoulos, Sofronistiko Katastima Domokou, T. K. 35010, Domokos, Fthiotida, Greece. [Correct as of: 26/11/20]

Damiano Bolano [Released 21/03/19]
Giorgos Nikolopoulos [Γιώργος Νικολόπουλος]
Michalis Nikolopoulos [Μιχάλης Νικολόπουλος]
Dikastiki Filaki Korydallou – Andrikes Fylakes-A’ Pteriga, TK 18110, Korydallos, Athens, Greece. [Correct as of: 10/11/19]
Damiano Bolano was 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.
[Updated: 01/12/16]

Olga Ekonomidou (Oikonomidou) [Όλγα Οικονομίδου]
Dikastiki Fylaki Korydallou – Gynaikeies Fylakes, TK 18110, Korydallos, Athens, Greece. [Correct as of: 10/11/19]
Giorgos Polydoros [Χρήστος Τσάκαλος]
Dikastiki Filaki Korydallou – Andrikes Fylakes-A’ Pteriga, TK 18110, Korydallos, Athens, Greece. [Correct as of: 10/11/19]
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 [Θεόφιλος Μαυρόπουλος]
Dikastiki Filaki Korydallos – Andrikes Fylakes-A’ Pteriga, TK 18110, Korydallos, Athens, Greece. [Updated: 22/08/18]
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:
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.

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 organiSation 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.

Kostas Gournas [Κώστας Γουρνάς]
ΚΑΥΦ (Central Prison Material Warehouse), Nikiforidi 2, Korydallos, 18122, Attica, Athens, Greece.
Nikos Maziotis [Nικος Μαζιωτης]
Dikastiki Filaki Domokou, T. K. 35010, Domokos, Fthiotidas, Greece. [Updated: 26/11/20]
Giorgos Petrakakos
Dikastiki Filaki Korydallos, Special wing [Eidikí Pteriga], TK 18110, Korydallos, Athens, Greece. [Addresses correct as of: 26/11/20]

Pola (Panagiota) Roupa [Πόλα (Παναγιωτα) Ρούπα], Dikastiki Fylaki Eleonas – Gynaikeies Fylakes, T. K. 32200, Thebes, Greece. [Updated: 26/11/20]

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).

Following a second trial with regard to the attack with a car bomb containing 75kg of explosives against the Bank of Greece’s Supervision Directorate in central Athens on April 10th 2014; the shootout in Monastiraki on July 16, 2014 (when comrade Nikos Maziotis was injured and recaptured by police); and expropriations of bank branches, on March 3, 2016, Nikos Maziotis was sentenced to life in prison plus 129 years and a fine of €20,000; Pola Roupa, who is still at liberty, was again sentenced in absentia, this time to 11 years in prison on misdemeanor charges (but she will also stand trial on felony charges if she is arrested); Antonis Stamboulos was sentenced to 13 years in prison and Giorgos Petrakakos was sentenced to 36 years in prison plus a fine of 9,000 euros. [Updated: 06/04/16]

Konstantina Athanasopoulou [Κωσταντινα Αθανασοπουλου], Eleonas Women’s Prison, Dikastiki Fylaki Eleonas, T. K. 32200, Thebes, Greece. [Correct as of: 26/11/20]

Giannis Michailidis [Γιαννης Μηχαιλιδης], Malandrinou prison [Κ. Κ. Μαλανδρίνου], T. K. 33053, Malandrino, Fokidas, Greece. [Correct as of: 26/11/20]

Dimitra Valavani [Δήμητρα Βαλαβάνη], Dikastiki Fylaki Korydallou, Gynaikeies Fylakes, T. K. 18110, Korydallos, Athens, Greece. [Correct as of: 26/11/20]

Arrested in Athens on January 29, 2020 during a repressive operation aimed at the arrest of Kostantina Athanasopoulou and Giannis Michailidis, who had been fugitives and wanted for some time. They were arrested in a stolen car and in possession of firearms.

Kostantina Athanasopoulou had been a fugitive since she was released on bail in 2019. Arrested in Athens on 5 January 2017, together with Pola Roupa, and accused of activities related to the revolutionary anarchist organisation Lotta Revolutionaria, she was sentenced in absentia in one of the trials against Revolutionary Struggle, again in 2019, at 35 years and 6 months.

Giannis Michailidis had escaped from the Tyrintha rural prison in June 2019. Arrested in February 2013 together with three other anarchists [see below], for the double armed robbery in Velventos (Kozani region), at the end of the trial he was sentenced to 16 years and 4 months in prison. In addition to this, he was serving a further sentence for a clash with police in Pefki (Athens area) in May 2011. During a check, two policemen and the anarchist Theofilos Mavropoulos, himself wounded, were shot and shot. he was arrested, while Giannis Michailidis managed to escape by stealing the police car. For these facts he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. [Updated: 26/11/20]

Argyris Ntalios (Dalios) [Αργύρης Ντάλιος]
Dimitris Politis [Δημήτρης Πολίτης]
Dikastiki Filaki Korydallou – D ’ Pteriga, T.K. 18110, Korydallos, Athens, Greece. [Addresses correct as of: 10/11/19]

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 were 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 were accused of taking part in a gunfight with cops in Pefki. Fivos Harisis and Argyris Dalios were arrested on 20/04/2013 in Nea Filadelphia, Athens and were also accused of robbery. Argyris and Fivos denied the accusations and their prosecution was based solely on DNA samples collected from the area where the robbery took place. Argyris Dalios was 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 were also accused of being members of CCF, something that both they and CCF deny.

On Wednesday, October 1, 2014, the Koridallos prison court in Athens found anarchist prisoners Yannis Michailidis, Nikos Romanos, Andreas-Dimitris Bourzoukos and Dimitris Politis (who have claimed political responsibility for the double armed robbery in Velventos, Kozani) as well as Fivos Harisis and Argyris Ntalios (who have denied all charges) guilty of:
– committing robbery while masked or disguised (except Dimitris Politis, who was convicted as an accessory),
– aggravated possession of firearms (for the guns used in the double expropriation),
– aggravated vehicle theft (for the car of the dentist-hostage used as getaway vehicle).

The final prison sentences against the six comrades were:
Giannis (Yannis) Michailidis: 16 years, 4 months and 10 days.
Nikos Romanos: 15 years and 10 months.
Andreas-Dimitris Bourzoukos, Fivos Harisis, Argyris Ntalios: 15 years and 11 months.
Dimitris Politis: 11 years and 5 months.

Finally, as proposed earlier by the prosecutor, the court acquitted all of the accused of alleged involvement in the CCF urban guerrilla group. However, there are other trial court cases underway that include the exact same accusation against the anarchist comrades.

An appeal by the prosecution in the Velvedo case has been set for April 20, 2016 in the women's wing of Koriddalos prisons. The court case is likely to last at least 2 years and take it well beyond the date that the six would normally be released under license. Therefore the six argue that the trial is merely an attempt to keep them in prison without filing any new charges. [source]
[Updated: 06/04/16]

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 and www.autistici.org/cna/indirizzi-dei-prigionieri/ for up-to-date prisoners addresses (in Italian).

Operation 'Bialystok'
In the latest anti-anarchist repression, at dawn on June 12, 2020, anti-terrorist police in Italy, France and Spain raided several houses, seizing materials and arresting seven people, five of them are in jail and two under house arrest.

Addresses of the anarchists currently in prison:

Nico Aurigemma, C. C. di Terni, strada delle Campore 32, 05100 Terni (TR), Italy.

Claudio Zaccone, C. C. di Siracusa, strada Monasteri 20/C, Contrada Cavadonna, 96100 Floridia (SR), Italy.

Flavia Digiannantonio, C. C. di Roma Rebibbia femminile, via Bartolo Longo 92, 00156 Roma, Italy.

Francesca Cerrone, CC di Latina, sezione femminile, via Aspromonte 100, 04100 Latina (LT), Italy.

Roberto Cropo, C. R. "S. Michele“ — Alessandria, strada statale per Casale 50/A, 15121 Alessandria, Italy.
[All addresses correct as of: 07/12/20]

Operazione Ritrovo
During the night of May 13, 2020, seven anarchists were arrested between Bologna, Milan and Tuscany, five others were required to reside in the municipality of residence and the anarchist documentation space Il Tribolo in Bologna was searched. The repressive operation, called 'Ritrovo', was coordinated by the public prosecutor Stefano Dambruoso and the Carabinieri of the ROS (Raggruppamento Operativo Speciale), who carried out the arrests and searches jointly with the provincial command of the Carabinieri of Bologna.

The seven arrested are charged with article 270bis of the penal code (subversive association with the purpose of terrorism or subversion of the democratic order), the other charges relate to articles 414 (incitement to commit a crime), 639 (defacement and soiling) and 635 (damage). One person is accused of article 423 (fire) for the incendiary attack of December 16, 2018, against some telecommunications antennas located in San Donato in Bologna and intended for the transmission of national and local television networks. On the site was left the writing "Turn off the antennas, awaken consciences. Solidarity with the anarchists detained and under surveillance."

The repressive forces affirm that the arrested anarchists are accused of having created a subversive-terrorist association having "the objective of affirming and spreading the anarchic-insurrectionalist ideology, as well as instigating, with the diffusion of propaganda material, the commission of acts of violence against the institutions." Furthermore, the public prosecutor's office of Bologna, with the help of the regime's media, underlined that the precautionary measures assume a "strategic preventive value aimed at avoiding that in any further moments of social tension, arising from the particular emergency situation [linked to the coronavirus epidemic], other moments of more general anti-State struggle campaign can take place." [14/05/20]

These are the current addresses of the arrested comrades:

Giuseppe Caprioli
Leonardo Neri
C. R. di Alessandria "San Michele", strada statale per Casale 50/A, 15121 Alessandria, Italy. [Correct as of: 14/05/20]

Stefania Carolei
C. C. di Vigevano, via Gravellona 240, 27029 Vigevano (PV), Italy. [Correct as of: 14/05/20]

Duccio Cenni
Guido Paoletti
C. C. di Ferrara, via Arginone 327, 44122 Ferrara, Italy. [Correct as of: 14/05/20]

Elena Riva
Nicole Savoia
C. C. di Piacenza, strada delle Novate 65, 29122 Piacenza, Italy. [Correct as of: 14/05/20]

Operazione Prometeo
On May 21st, 2019, three anarchists were arrested in the context of a repressive operation called 'Prometeo' (Prometheus) and carried out by the ROS (Raggruppamento Operazioni Speciali / Special Operational Grouping) of the carabinieri. Some searches have also been carried out. The main accusation is of "attack with terrorist or subversive purposes", as they were held responsible for sending three bomb packages arrived in June 2017 to the prosecutors Rinaudo (prosecutor in several trials against the antagonist movement and the anarchists) and Sparagna (prosecutor in the trial for the 'Scripta Manent' operation) and Santi Consolo, at the time director of the DAP (Dipartimento dell’Amministrazione Penitenziaria / Department of Penitentiary Administration) of Rome. They are not accused of any "associative" crime (such as articles 270 or 270bis of the Italian penal code). A comrade, Natascia, was arrested in France and was transferred to Italy, in the Rebibbia prison (Rome). Between July and August 2019, on several occasions, with the clear intention of weakening the conditions and aggravating the isolation, they were transferred to the prisons of Alessandria, L’Aquila, Terni, Sassari, Rossano Calabro, Piacenza and Pavia. In June, Natascia participated in the hunger strike against the restrictions and conditions of the female AS2 (Alta Sorveglianza 2, "High Surveillance 2") section of the prison of L’Aquila, destined to lock up the anarchists.

Natascia Savio, C. C. di Piacenza "San Lazzaro“, strada delle Novate 65, 29122 Piacenza, Italia – Italy. [Correct as of: 22/11/20]

Robert Firozpoor, [released on 02/12/19]

Giuseppe Bruna, C. C. di Pavia, Via Vigentina, 85 - CAP 27100 Pavia (PV), Italia – Italy. [Correct as of: 22/11/20]

Financial support can be given via:
Postepay Evolution Account holder: Vanessa Ferrara.
N° 5333 1710 9103 5440
IBAN: IT89U3608105138251086351095

Postepay Evolution Account holder: Ilaria Benedetta Pasini.
N°: 5333 1710 8931 9699
IBAN: IT43K3608105138213368613377

Operazione Scintilla
On Thursday February 7, 2019, at 4:40 a.m., the eviction of the squat "Asilo occupato" (the occupied kindergarden") in Via Alessandria 12 in Turin, occupied since 1995, began. The eviction was carried out as part of the "Operazione Scintilla" ("Operation Spark"). Several hundred Carabinieri in riot gear, police officers and Guardia di finanza with machine guns and plain clothes police not only evicted the house, but also arrested six anarchists. A seventh person is still being searched for.

The charges are serious: formation of a subversive association, incitement to crime and the possession, manufacture and transportation of explosives in a public place. The charges are related to the resistance against the Italian migration regime, namely against the deportation camps/prisons CPR and CIE (Centro per l’Immigrazione e il Rimpatrio = Immigration and Repatriation Centre; Centro di identificazione ed espulsione = Identification and Deportation Centre), more information below.
The Asilo was evicted as part of this operation because the state regards it as the "logistical and operational base" of this "subversive, insurrectional association".

The eviction of the Asilo was delayed by the squatters for 36 hours because some of them had retreated to the roofs. In the meantime, sympathisers organised wild demos in the city, where there were clashes with the police. The Asilo was made uninhabitable in the last few days (destruction inside, bricked up windows, etc.).

During the big solidarity demonstrations there were several arrests and over 300 identity checks. Many arrested people report bruises inflicted by the police when they were arrested. At least four people had to go to the hospital because of their injuries. The accusations for the twelve people arrested at Saturday’s demonstration are devastation, looting, resisting orders, bodily harm and possession of weapons. However, in the meantime, these twelve people who got arrested at the demo are again free but have to report daily to a police station (as of February 13).

*Details of the accusations*

The allegations: formation of a subversive association; incitement to crime; possession, manufacture and transportation of explosives in a public place.

The six persons were arrested at the request of the anti-terror group of the Turin public prosecutor’s office. The indictment is that the accused

"have promoted, constituted, organised and participated in the creation of a subversive association (ex Art. 270 c.p.) which is intended to and can influence national immigration policy through the repeated destruction of the CIE/CPR and through systematic acts of violence and intimidation against the companies involved in the management of the abovementioned structures."
("aver promosso, costituito, organizzato e partecipato a un’associazione sovversiva (ex art. 270 c.p.) diretta e idonea a influire sulle politiche nazionali in materia di immigrazione mediante la ripetuta distruzione dei CIE/CPR e con sistematici atti di violenza e intimidazione nei confronti delle imprese impegnate nella gestione delle sopra indicate strutture di accoglienza")

The arrested are accused of "21 subversive attacks" in various Italian cities: On the one hand, 15 parcels of explosives were allegedly sent to companies in Turin, Bologna, Milan, Rome (French Embassy), Bari and Ravenna; six other explosives affected the offices of the Italian Post Office (Poste Italiane) in Turin, Bologna and Genoa. Poste Italiane was allegedly hit because, as the owner of the airline "MistralAir", it has held the ministerial mandate for deportation flights since 2011.Two of the arrested (together with two yet unidentified persons) are accused of having placed explosive devices in front of Poste Italiane ATMs in Turin on April 30 and June 9, 2016.

"In order to establish contacts within CPR, they threw tennis balls with a multilingual brochure and a mobile phone number with which they agreed simultaneous actions within and outside the CPR structure. Then they put matches and everything needed to start a revolt and setting Fire in packages of biscuits and other goods."

Allegedly, the aim of these actions was to weaken or destroy the CPR’s "capacity" (see
www.nuovasocieta.it/operazione-scintilla-sgombero-dellasilo-e-anarchici-arrestati-per-associazione-sovversiva/).

*Practical solidarity*

A lot of money is needed, long prison sentences are imminent – people are very grateful for solidarity contributions to the following account:

Giulia Merlini e Pisano Marco
IBAN IT61Y0347501605CC0011856712
ABI 03475 CAB 01605
BIC INGBITD1

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You can continue to write letters to and support the remaining Turin prisoners:

UPDATES:
Giada and Larry were released from custody.
The accusation of subversive association (Article 270) was dropped. The other accusations remain for all defendants, except: Niccolò was sentenced to "double imprisonment", one for art. 270, the other for a firecracker apparently found in his house. [08/03/19]
All four of the other comrades -Silvia, Niccolò, Beppe and Anto -have been released under house arrest. [25/09/19]

Giuseppe Sciacca, [Released from prison on: 21/07/20]

On the morning of November 26th anarchist comrade Giuseppe Sciacca was arrested by the DIGOS (political police) in Turin and his home searched. He is accused of the "manufacture, possession and transport of explosive material" in connection with the sending, in 2016, of a letter bomb to Ladisa, the company that managed the canteen in the CPR (temporary detention centre for migrants) in Turin. The case is one of those grouped under the operation 'Scintilla' catch-all. [01/12/19]

Financial support can be given via:
Postepay Evolution Account holder: Maria Emilia Grigolini.
N°: 5333 1710 3675 7769.
IBAN: IT05P0760105138250239950240.

Carla Tubeuf, C. C. di Vigevano, via Gravellona 240, 27029 Vigevano (Pv), Italia. [Correct as of: 24/11/20]

On July 23, 2020, Carla was arrested in France, an anarchist fugitive since February 7, 2019 as the recipient of an arrest warrant in the context of the 'Scintilla' operation. In August she was extradited to Italy. [20/09/20]

Operazione Ardesia
Leonardo Landi was arrested on February 26, 2019 following a sentence of cassation concerning a robbery in 2007 for which some anarchists were arrested and investigated in the context of the 'Ardesia' operation. He was sentenced to a sentence of 2 years and 8 months. The other convicted defendants have already served their sentence. At the end of January 2020, he was sentenced to an additional 18 months for attempted robbery in connection with clashed during an anti-fascist protest in Pinerolo in 2018.

Leonardo Landi, C. C. Vibo Valentia 'Nuovo Complesso', Contrada Cocari, 89900 Vibo Valentia, Italy. [correct as of: 24/11/20]

Operazione Renata
During the night and the morning of Tuesday, February 19, 2019, seven anarchists were arrested in various places in Trentino (Italy): Agnese, Giulio, Nico, Poza, Rupert, Sasha, Stecco. One person (Sasha) was placed under house arrest while all the others were imprisoned in various prisons. The main accusations are "subversive association for the purpose of terrorism and subversion of the democratic order" (article 270bis of the penal code) and "terrorist attack" (article 280 of the penal code), with reference to some direct actions that took place in Trentino during the last few years. Other offences of which they are accused are: "interruption of public service", "damage", "sabotage of telematic devices", "fire" and "transport of exploding material".

At the same time 50 searches were carried out, with about 150 policemen and Carabinieri mobilized in the repressive operation (which was given the name "operation Renata", apparently a name taken from the nickname given to a car used by some comrades). The investigations were conducted by Digos (state police) and ROS (Carabinieri). On the same day of the arrests, a press conference took place in Rome, organised by anti-terrorism. It is clear the attempt to hit the anarchist presence in Trentino, pigeonholing and describing the relations between anarchist comrades within a phantom "subversive association" (with leaders, inciters, cashiers, responsible, "hideouts", etc.), an accusation trying to convey as many years as possible in prison.

It is probable that soon the comrades will be transferred to other prisons (therefore the addresses will change). Below are the latest updated addresses.

[Stecco] Luca Dolce, C.C. Modena, strada Sant’Anna 370, 41122 Modena, Italia. [correct as of: 28/12/19]

Giulio Berdusco, Roberto Bottamedi, Nicola Briganti, Andrea Parolari, and Agnese Trentin have since been released under house arrest.

UPDATE: Convictions were handed down for the crimes of production of false documents, damage, violation of the arms law on December 5th. Poza was sentenced to two years and six months; Agnes and Stecco at two years; Rupert at one year and nine months; Sasha and Nico at one year and ten months; Giulio was acquitted and released on the same day. [correct as of: 10/12/19]

Statement found on: www.autistici.org/macerie/

Seven comrades were arrested on February 19, 2019 in Trentino. They are accused of subversive association with the purpose of terrorism (Article 270 bis) and an attack for terrorist purposes or subversions (Article 280).

The short-term nature and the large scale of the repressive operation "Renata" - in addition to the arrests, more than 30 searches have been carried out - do not yet allow us to get an accurate picture of the allegations and the investigation hypothesis, nor do we yet know in which prisons the comrades are locked up.
However, we do not need more time or more precise information to say who the detained comrades and other persons involved in Operation Renata in different ways are.

They are comrades who have been engaged for years, not only in the cities where they live; in the struggles against war and militarism, against borders, raids and the reactionary wind that is cutting off our air more and more. Against prisons and police violence. The comrades were determined not to leave the fascists any space and capacity to act, they were determined to fight against the many projects of environmental destruction, from the high-speed line Verona-Brenner to the wall of Mori. Comrades who on many occasions stood by the side of those fighting against the constant deterioration of working conditions. comrades, whom we have known and appreciated for many years, for their courage and determination. Precious comrades.

****

This is the bank account for solidarity donations for the detainees of Trento:

IBAN: IT04H3608105135138216260316268 (Name: Bezerra Kamilla)
BIC/SWIFT code: PPAYITR1XXX

Maddalena Calore, C. C. "Ettore Scalas“ — Uta, zona industriale Macchiareddu, 2° strada ovest Uta (SP1), 09010 Uta (Ca), Italy. [correct as of: 20/11/20]
Anarchist arrested in March 2017 for a residual sentence due to previous convictions.

Juan Antonio Sorroche Fernandez, C. C. di Terni, strada delle Campore 32, 05100 Terni, Italy. [correct as of: 20/11/20]
Manuel Oxoli, [Released on 26/07/20 following a reduction in his sentence.]

In May 22, 2019, anarchist comrade Juan, a fugitive and wanted for about two years for some final sentences, was arrested. Two houses were searched in the province of Brescia and two homes of parents of a companion and a companion in the Brescia hinterland. Another comrade (Manu) was also arrested, initially stopped and whose arrest was then validated (he was also taken to the prison in Brescia), accused of 'personal aiding' (article 378 of the Criminal Code), with the aggravating circumstance of 'aiding the abduction of the execution of the sentence' (in reference to Juan's inaction). In the following days there were other searches at the same homes that were already searched. Furthermore, Juan is accused of an explosive attack on a Lega Nord headquarters (August 2018, Treviso), with accusations of 'massacre' and 'terrorist attack'. For these accusations he would have received a notification of custody in prison. At the beginning of June they were transferred to the prisons of Terni and Monza (Juan is in a section AS2).

Operation Scripta Manent
On September 6, 2016, Torino’s section of the DIGOS antiterrorist unit unleashed an anti-anarchist operation under the name 'Scripta Manent'. House searches were conducted in various regions of Italy. Anarchists Alfredo Cospito and Nicola Gai, incarcerated since September 2012 for kneecapping Adinolfi (Olga Cell FAI/FRI), received a new arrest notification whilst in prison. Additionally, six arrests were made on the outside (five in the context of this operation; one as outcome of a house search).

Operation Scripta Manent seeks to attribute to the accused a series of actions claimed by FAI (Informal Anarchist Federation) in Italy. Therefore, the comrades Marco, Sandrone, Anna, Danilo and Valentina, alongside Nicola and Alfredo [see separate entry below], are likely to face charges of "subversive association with terrorist intent“.

Anna Beniamino [imprisoned since September 6, 2016.]
C. C. di Roma Rebibbia femminile, via Bartolo Longo 92, 00156 Roma, Italia. [Correct as of: 26/11/20]

Marco Bisesti
[Released following his appeal of sentence on 24/11/20]

Alessandro Mercogliano [Acquitted of all charges at appeal of sentence on 24/11/20]
Nicola Gai [Released following his appeal of sentence on 24/11/20]

Alfredo Cospito
C.C. Ferrara, Via dell’Arginone 327, ΙΤ-44122 Ferrara, Italy. [Correct as of: 24/11/20]

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 recognised 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 were:
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]

UPDATE: On November 24, 2020 the following sentences were handed down ito those comrades convicted during the first trial:

— Anna Beniamino: 16 years and 6 months (first trial: 17 years).
— Alfredo Cospito: 20 years (as in the first trial), in continuation with the sentence of cassation at 9 years, 5 months and 10 days of the trial for the action against Adinolfi.
— Nicola Gai: 1 year and 1 month (first trial: 9 years), in continuation with the sentence of cassation at 8 years, 8 months and 20 days of the trial for the action against Adinolfi.
— Alessandro Mercogliano: acquitted of all charges (first trial: 5 years).
— Marco Bisesti: acquitted from the charge of "subversive association with the purpose of terrorism and subversion of the democratic order" (first trial: 5 years), but sentenced to 1 year and 9 months for "incitement to commit crimes" in relation to embership of 'Croce Nera Anarchica' (Anarchist Black Cross).

The sentence for "subversive association with the purpose of terrorism and subversion of the democratic order" has been confirmed for Anna Beniamino, Alfredo Cospito and Nicola Gai. As a result, comrades Nicola Gai, Alessandro Mercogliano and Marco Bisesti were then released. [26/11/20]

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, Seconda Casa di Reclusione di Milano – Bollate, Via Cristina Belgioioso 120, IT-20157 Milano, Italy. [NB: Current status unknown: 10/11/19]

Serving 12 years and 3 months. Added to Marina's sentence, after time already spent in prison, was "psychic shared-participation" in the riots - if you don't stop someone braking a bank, you are a partner in the crime.

Francesco Puglisi - Released ["affidamento in prova ai servizi sociali) (probation assignment with social service)]

Francesco Puglisi, who likes to be called by his nickname "Gimmy", 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.

Davide Delogu, C. C. di Caltagirone, Contrada Noce, S. Nicola Agrò, 95041 Caltagirone (Ct), Italia. [Updated: 24/11/2020]

An anarchist convicted of a number of robberies and thefts, Davide has already spent more than 20 years in prison. On May 1, 2017, he attempted to escape from the Brucoli prison in Augusta, Sicily, almost succeeding. In April 2019 he was transferred to the prison in Rossano Calabro and also in the same month censorship of his correspondence was imposed. He is currently under the punnative 14 bis solitary isolation regime with approximately two more years disciplinary isolation left. [Updated: 01/04/20]

Mauro Rossetti Busa, C. C. di Agrigento, piazza Di Lorenzo 1, 92100 Agrigento, Italia. [Updated: 26/11/20]

Mauro Rosetti Busa was arrested on 2 February 2018 in Lucca, accused of two arson attacks in the city on the same day, one against an Eni distributor and the other against a Casapound office. In December 2019 he was sentenced to 12 years.

Paolo Todde, C. C. "Ettore Scalas“ — Uta, zona industriale Macchiareddu, 2° strada ovest Uta (SP1), 09010 Uta (Ca), Italia. [Updated: 26/11/20]

Sardinian anarchist and separatist arrested on October 31, 2017 following an armed robbery in a post office in Cagliari. At the end of the first degree trial he was sentenced to 6 years in prison.

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.

'Network' Case
In the run-up to presidential elections and the FIFA World Cup, repression against antifascists and anarchists started in Russia. In Autumn 2017, 6 people were arrested in Penza; several of them had weapons and explosives planted on them. FSB officers then tortured the antifascists right in the detention facility: they applied naked wires to the activists’ various body parts and turned the electricity on, they beat them up, hanged them upside down. While torturing them, the agents made the activists learn by heart the story the FSB needed: they were supposed to confess of having founded and belonging to a terrorist organisation called 'The Network'. In late January 2018, two more antifascists were arrested in Saint-Petersburg. They, too, were beaten up, tortured with electric current, and forced to incriminate themselves by confirming they were members of the 'Network'.
For the full background to the case, see: https://rupression.com/en/how-the-fsb-is-manufacturing-a-terrorism-case-against-antifascists-in-russia/

Igor Shishkin (Игорь Шишкин)
Was born in St.Petersburg, Russia.
Twenty-nine year old Antifascist and vegan. In the last several years he was actively engaged in business, which helped him to maintain his family and dog. He is interested in scientific breakthroughs, travelling, martial arts and sport in general. Took 1st place at the Russian NorthWest Powerlifting Championship in 2013. Practised martial arts in 'Versus' combat gym.
On January 25th of 2018 was arrested by FSB during investigation of so-called 'Network' case.
Was sentenced to 3.5 years in a general regime penal colony under part 2 of article 205.4 of the Criminal Code.

Viktor Filinkov (Виктор Филинков)
Was born in Petropavlovsk, Kazakhstan.
From the age of 10 have interest in remote control robots, fixing electronic devices, computer programming. After school moved to Omsk (Russia) where he started working as computer programmer (coder). Linux-community user, open-source software and open-internet enthusiast. Gave lectures about internet-security. Left-wing activist, antifascist, supporter of the trade union movement.
On January 23th of 2018 was arrested by FSB during investigation of so-called 'Network' case.
Was sentenced to 7 years in a penal colony.

Yuliy Boyarshinov (Юлий Бояршинов)
Was born in St.Petersburg, Russia. Studied at ITMO University, faculty of physics and engineering. Worked as industrial alpinists.
For the last 5 years he was one of the organisers of 'Free Market' in St.Petersburg, it’s an event, where you can take the things you need and leave the ones you don’t need. Vegetarian, volunteer in animal shelters. Enjoys travelling and hiking, likes science fiction.
On January 21 of 2018 was arrested. On 11th of April Yuliy was changed with participation on terrotistic society 'Network'. FSB officers were threatening him to worsen his prison conditions if Yuliy will not cooperate. Later they moved him to another cell with 150 prisoners: murder, rape, robbery convicts. Moreover cell has only 115 beds.
Was sentenced to 5.5 years in a penal colony.

Addresses to follow or check Rupression for updates.

Evgeni Vitalevich Karakashev, [Karakashev Evgeni Vitalevich, 1978], 361424, Kabardino-Balkariya, CHegemskij rajon, p. Kamenka, ul. D.A. Mizieva, 1, FKU IK-1, Russia. [correct as of 10/11/19]
Evgeny Karakashev was born on August 21, 1978 and lives in Yevpatoria, Crimea. He is an anarchist and anti-fascist, and is just one of the many radicals caught up in the current wave of repression in Russia. On February 1, 2018, Karakashev was detained, and arrested the following day on suspicion of committing crimes under Part 1 of Art. 282 (the incitement of hatred and enmity) and Part 2 of Art. 205.2 (public calls for terrorism) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. On February 2, 2018, the Evpatoria City Court ordered Evgeny to be detained for 2 months on suspicion of committing «incitement of hatred and enmity» and «public calls for terrorism» for alledged postings on the Russian social network VKontakte.

How you can help: You can transfer money with the Paypal system: our address is [email protected] [please mention "for Evgeny Karakashev"]

For more information: link

Ilya Eduardovich Romanov, [Romanov Ilya Eduardovich, 1967 g.r.] Released on 11/04/20
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

Gabriel Pombo da Silva, Centro Penitenciario Mansilla de las Mulas, Paraje Villahierro, 24210 Mansilla de las Mulas (León), España. [correct as of: 12/07/20]

Spanish insurrectionary anarchist and former long-term prisoner, who is best known for his book 'Diario e ideario de un delincuente' (Diary and ideology of a criminal; 2006) and his involvement in the so-called ‘Aachen 4 case’, has long been the target for the repressive forces of states across Europe. He is once again in prison following his detention on yet another international arrest warrant awaiting extradition to Spain.

Gabriel's currently legal situation is as follows:

* The Girona prosecutor's office demands that Gabriel serve another 16 years following an interpretation of a non-existent penalty calculation, as they are attempting to deny the 'principle de especialidad' should have previously applied (one of the reasons why Gabriel's release was possible in June 2016). This must also be claimed and reiterated by Germany at the request of Portugal if deemed appropriate.
* Extradition remains frozen while Portugal analyzes the situation, questions Germany about the 'principle de especialidad' and determines the situation in order to grant extradition or not.
* The objective of the defence is immediate release thanks to the recognition of the same 'principle de especialidad'
* If this is not achieved, the goal would be to avoid extradition and to ensure that he would serve his supposed residual sentence in Portugal, avoiding the persecution he would undergo in Spanish prisons.
* In the event of extradition, we would fight so that this sentence is not served, by the application of reduced sentences and mergers of different sentences, which has never happened until now (this could happen even if he is imprisoned in Portugal).
* In any case, it is necessary to work via legal avenues so that no power of attorney can reopen any previous lawsuit and make any possible arrest warrant vain.

Given that Gabriel's legal case will include the need for legal representation in both Spain and Portugal, and in all likelihood Germany too, his legal expenses will be high. A bank account has been opened, on behalf of his partner Elisa, so that he can receive solidarity contributions in the quickest, direct and most organised means possible.

Owner: Elisa Di Bernardor
Bank: Bankinterr
Iban: ES06-0128-0180-3601-0009-8696r
Bic/Swift Code: BKBKESMMXXX

UPDATE: Gabriel was handed over to the Spanish authorities on May 12th and is currently in prison in Badajoz (Extremadura) under the FIES 5 regime, created for prisoners with «special characteristics» [e.g. international crime, gender violence or with racist or xenophobic character, very serious crimes that have caused great social alarm, Islamist terrorism, radical fanaticism related to terrorist ideology, ect.] and has been given the 2nd degree (previously he could access prison benefits, enjoy permits and even probation), and the intervention of all communications (letters are opened and read, visits are recorded). [20/06/20]

Lisa Dorfer, C.P Brians I, Carretera de Martorell a Capellades, km 23, 08635, Sant Esteve Sesrovires, Spain. [correct as of: 12/11/19]
On June 7, 2019, our anarchist comrade Lisa was sentenced by the court in Aachen, Germany to seven and a half years in prison for a bank expropiation in 2014. She has since undergone voluntary deportation back to Spain, where she was living prior to her arrest by the Mossos d’Esquadra on a German arrest warrant.

Rodrigo Lanza, Apartado de correos 33044, Ronda universitat 23., 08007 Barcelona, Spain. [Correct as of: 12/11/20]
On September 23, 2020 Chilean anarchist and member of the Zaragozan anarchist squatter scene Rodrigo Lanza was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the aggravated murder of Víctor Laínez, 55, after beating him on December 8, 2017 in Zaragoza.
Rodrigo had previously been sentenced to five years in prison on November 26, 2019 for reckless manslaughter but that sentence was set aside in April 2020 by the Superior Court of Justice of Aragon, which ordered a repeat trial.
The latest sentence came a week after the court found the Chilean guilty of murder with the aggravation of ideological hatred. Judge María José Gil Corredera was inclined to grant him the lowest sentence requested by the parties. He will have to serve at least 2/3 of his sentence before being considered for release, and since he had already been in custody for three years, this will mean he will have to serve at least twelve years in prison. [Updated: 12/11/20]

Altsasu Eight
The Altsasu group are eight Basque youths who faced charges of terrorism over a bar fight in which two off-duty Civil Guards and their girlfriends were injured. They were convicted of public disorder, but not terrorism, and sentenced to between two and 13 years in prison for the crimes of attacking agents of the authorities, injuries, public disorder and threats.
The court decided that the fight was down to "ideological reasons and antagonism towards the Civil Guard", and the judges imposed the maximum sentences possible for the charges. They included aggravating factors of abuse of superiority and hatred.
The court imposed sentences of 13 years in prison for Oihan Arnanaz and Iñaki Abad, 12 years for Jokin Unamuno and Adur Ramírez de Alza, nine years for Julen Goikoetxea and Aratz Urrizola and two for Ainara Urkijo. They also ruled compensation of €9,200 for the Civil Guard lieutenant involved, €3,750 for the sergeant and €6,100 each for their partners.

Contact address for all the Altsasu 8 prisoners:
Centro Penitenciario Madrid VII, Estremera, Madrid / Carretera M-241, Km.5.750, CP 28595, Spain. [correct as of: 11/06/18]

www.altsasugurasoak.com/en/

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, Borja Marquerie Echave and José Manuel Bustamante Vergara, 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.
Manuel 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.

UPDATE: Borja and Manuel have since been released on bail pending trial. [05/01/17]

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]

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 [21/12/16]: On December 16, 2016, the Supreme Court announced that it had reduced the sentences of Francisco Solar and Mónica Caballero from 12 to 4.5 years, plus €143,317 compensation for damages caused by the explosion at the Basilica of the Pillar in Zaragoza in October 2013. [source]

Mónica Andrea Caballero Sepúlveda and Francisco Javier Solar Domínguez were freed from prison and deported back to Chile on March 9, 2017. [Correct as of: 12/03/17]

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.

SWITZERLAND

Marco Camenisch, has finally completed his period of 'gradual release' from prison and is now free. [10/03/17]

TURKEY

Osman Evcan, Silivri 9 Nolu Kapalı Cezaevi, C-4-26, Kampüs PTT Şubesi, Silivri-Istanbul, Turkey. [Correct as of: 08/09/17] [source]

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.

Markéta Všelichová and Miroslav Farkas were arrested on November 13, 2016 while attempting to cross the Habur border crossing from Turkey to Iraq. They were accused of participating in terrorist activity in Northern Syria and taken into custody. On the August 2 they were sentenced to 6 years and 3 months for belonging to the Kurdish defence forces YGP/YPJ (these non-state kurdish groups are fighting Daesh/ISIS, the turkish army which has been repressing Kurds for several decades, and the dictatorial regime of Bashar Al-Asad).

Markéta had been to Rojava twice, according to her own words she joined the defence forces and fell in love with the region and its specific cultural and political situation. This time she and Mirek were on their way to Rojava, where they planned to set up a field hospital for fighters and civilians, and eventually help with defence, as she says herself. Together they made a campaign before their big journey, during which they wanted to acquire the necessary material, while also not being afraid to make lectures about life, fighting and revolution in the region. These public activities also probably raised the interest of Turkish agents.

In an interview Markéta said she feels with people, who risk their life in the fight against evil, that she would like to help Rojava with anything it needs, and that she realises that as a European she has greater possibilities how to get involved and help. A bit my own way, but with them, as she said. Often we read about how Mirek and Markéta are not terrorists but innocent victims. We completely understand and respect this reaction of their close friends and family, but we do not think it is a strategy that is helpful to us nor do we dare to claim that both people in prison would agree with it. We do not want to waste energy by endlessly repeating the statement that they are not terrorists. Not because we think the opposite but because from historical and personal experience we know that the term terrorist itself is an empty term which the the state uses to label anyone it considers its enemy. In the Czech Republic it is used to describe anarchists, in western Europe radical Islamists and in Turkey it is used to describe the people who fight them.

Markéta and Mirek chose to make a brave step and unfortunately fell into custody of the Turkish state, the biggest oppressor of the Kurdish people for many decades and who therefore sees both activists as its enemy. Now they are both in a Turkish prison. If you feel solidarity with them and want to support them then first of all do not hesitate and write them a letter to the following addresses. (Letters must be written in English, you will find what to write and what not to write in the section "How to write letters")[https://antifenix.noblogs.org/files/2015/06/dopisovani_veznum.pdf]

Markéta’s address:

Van T Tipi Kapali Ceza İnfaz Kurumu
Markéta Všelichová
Tevekli Mah. Erciş Yolu (Erciş Yolu 25. Km) Tuşba / Van
650 40
Turecká republika – Türkiye Cumhuriyeti

Mirek’s address:

Van F Tipi Yuksek Guvenlikli Kapali Ceza Infaz Kurumu
Miroslav Farkas
Abdurrahman Gazi, Km, Ipek Yolu Cd. N°25
650 40 Van Merkez/Van
Turecká republika – Türkiye Cumhuriyeti

On mirekamarketa.cz you can find out about the legal campaign, possibilities of financial support of legal help and you will also find more information and materials.