Short update of the recent repressions against anarchists in Belarus

2.17 Demonstration of solidarity in Berlin with all Belarusian political prisoners

On Thursday evening (02/17/2011) hosted a demonstration of solidarity with the Belarusian zaklyuchennymi.Demonstratsiya began at 18 o'clock, in the Berlin district of Kreuzberg (Kreuzberg "Heinrichplatz"). There were about 35 people, just playing music, was made public a report on the repression of the anarchists and the opposition, handed out leaflets and newspapers. This is the second such demonstration in Berlin. The last time it was held in September last year, the Berlin district of Friedrichshain up of Belarusian embassy. This demonstration was held before the so-called "presidential elections", so it showed up and Belarusian TV (channel ONT).Nevertheless, after a week you could see a report in the "contours", in the most natural description of "good" manners This time on the banner was written only in Russian, "Freedom for Political Prisoners - Anarchist Black Cross of Belarus". Around 18.30 we moved towards the Treptow Park, where the embassy of Belarus. On the way, handing out leaflets and play music. About an hour later we arrived at the embassy, where he spent two more performances at the German and Russian languages.And in the end of the demonstration all Zered in Russian: "Freedom for all anarchists."

Tue, 15/02/2011 -

As of right now four Belarussian anarchists are under arrest, accused of having organised a series of direct actions 2009-2010.

Everything started long before this past September(2010). The years 2009-2010  were rich in radical actions claimed by Belarusian anarchists. Such as:

 *an illegal anti-militarist demonstration in Septeber 2009 against a mutual
 Russian-Belarusian war exercise,  when a Joint Staff was attacked with a smoke   grenade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iQ3kz0hVDM


* an attack on a Minsk casino using paint bulbs and flares in protest of
 the relocation of most Russian casinos to Belarus after the law banning casinos in Russia was passed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXKjrVVAHXw

* an attack on a police station in Soligorsk during the days of common
 action against the police (windows were broken and a flare was thrown inside)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT27oiSwCY0

* an attack on the Headquarters of the Trade Union Federation on the 1st May
 with the statement that the state and this formal organisation uses workers
 in its interests, and doesn't defend their rights, often preventing workers
 from cooperating with each other and organizing strikes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLNyIpJYz7Q&feature=player_embedded

 * an attack on a branch of Belarusbank as a protest against the financial
 system in the world (molotov-cocktails)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT7f1hro9jc&feature=player_embedded

and finally

 * an attack on the Russian embassy in Minsk as a solidarity action with  Khimki arrestees on the 30th August 2010  where a car belonging to the  embassy was burnt.

This was the last drop for the regime as the attack was carried out in  a period of harsh antagonism between the leaders of Russia and   Belarus. Before the action was claimed by anarchists each country had   already blamed the other one for having maneuvered the provocation.

On August 3rd 8 people in 3 different flats were detained and 7 of them  were put in a detention center for 9 days. During this period another   radical action took place

* an attack on the detention center with the statement to set free all detainees. The attackers set fire to a door of the detention centre.  Later the video is removed from youtube.

After 9 days 5 of the 7 people are set free, but other people are  detained in the meantime. One of them, Aliaksandr Frantskevich, is accused of   the attack on the police station in Soligorsk. He admits that he was   filming the event. The other guy, Mikalaj Dziadok, is kept in the   detention facility for different reasons till September 24, when he is   accused of organising last year's anti-militarist action. In the  meantime they also find witnesses who claim that he also organised an   attack on the casino and the House of Trade Unions. All episodes   mentioned above are now united under one case. Mikalaj denies his guilt.

* In October the KGB quarters in Bobrujsk are attacked with molotov cocktails.

 They take a guy who lives in the neighbourhood, Sergej Sliusar, and  keep him for 10 days without accusations. (He had also been detained for 9   days in September)

On the 4th of November Maxim Vetkin is arrested and accused of an attack on the   Russian embassy and on Belarusbank. He admits his guilt and says that he   was participating also in the attack on the bank. He is also giving testimony against other people, so we have withdrawn support from him.

On the 17th of November Denis Bystrik is detained, where he is told that Maxim  gave testimony that he was filming the action at the Russian embassy. He   admits his fault but is set free without accusations so that he can contact one of the other suspects, Ihar Alinevich, and have him detained, but eventually the plot is not successful.

On the 29th of November Ihar Alinevich is detained in Moscow, when trying to
 meet his comrade Anton Laptenok (one of those detained on September 3rd). He  is accused of an attack on the Russian embassy and is held in the KGB remand prison. Ihar admits that he was participating in the anti- militarist  action, but doesn't consider it a criminal act. He denies all other  accusations.

On the 17th of January Jauhen Vasilevich, a journalist from the newspaper "Bobruiski courier," a nationalist democrat without connections to the anarchist movement, is detained and accused of the attack on the KGB headquarters in Bobruisk.

The period of investigation for all of the arrested is prolonged till April
 12th.

All of them may face up to 6 years of imprisonment. The case with the  bank could mean up to 10 years. It appears that they are also accused  of “intentional destruction of property committed by an organised group   (7-12 years of imprisonment).” According to the law, in such a case, the organiser gets no less than 3/4 of   the maximum sentence.

Addresses of prisoners for support:
Mikalaj Dziadok, Tyurma SIZO-1, ul. Volodarskogo 2, 220050 Minsk, Belarus (New address!!)

Aliaksandr Frantskevich, k. 46 SIZO-1, ul. Volodarskogo 2, 220050 Minsk, Belarus

Ihar Alinevich, P.O. Box 8, Glavpochtampt, 220050 Minsk, Belarus (Unfortunately Ihar is only allowed correspondence in Belarusian and Russian language, but you may send postcards and such)

List of prisoners in former Soviet Union we support:
http://wiki.golosa.info/en/index.php?title=Category:Prisoners_in_former_...

Alexei Gaskarov Released from Police Custody by the Khimki Municipal Court

Friday, October 22, 2010

Oct. 22, 2010 Anarchist Black Cross of Moscow

On October 22, Alexei Gaskarov was released from police custody in a Khimki
municipal courtroom. Judge Svetlana Galanova made the decision to release
Gaskarov on his own recognizance, ignoring an appeal from the prosecution to
leave him in police custody. Alexei reacted by saying that he had not
expected this decision because he has no faith in the Russian justice system.

The prosecution presented no new arguments to support its request to keep
Gaskarov in police custody, with the exception of a report issued by the FSB.
The report states that Alexei Gaskarov has been a member of the Antifa IYA
(apparently, “informal youth association”) since 2007; that he has extensive
contacts, including with foreign countries, which is corroborated by his
multiple trips abroad; that he has participated in and organized unsanctioned
protest actions; and that the last time he was detained was on March 20,
2010, during the Day of Rage protest action.

In his testimony, Alexei stated that antifascism is not a crime, that his
antifascist views cannot be cause to place him under arrest, and that his
trips abroad are his own personal affair. Gaskarov told the court that he was
present at the March 20 Day of Rage protest in his capacity as a
correspondent for the Institute for Collective Action (IKD) and that after
his arrest he had been acquitted of all charges by a justice of the peace.
Gaskarov had likewise traveled to Khimki on July 28 as an IKD correspondent,
which was confirmed in a letter submitted by the institute’s directors.

Civil rights activist Lev Ponomaryov, who participated in the hearing as a
counsel for the defense, likewise voiced his bewilderment over the fact that
the prosecution had portrayed antifascist convictions as a negative character
factor, whereas in reality society should be proud of such people because
they protect it from fascism. According to Ponomaryov, it is a very good
thing that such people are resolute in their convictions.

The court heard testimony from Andrei Demidov, deputy director of the
Institute for Collective Action. Demidov confirmed that Gaskarov had been
dispatched to Khimki as an IKD correspondent. Georgy Semyonovsky, Gaskarov’s
lawyer, reminded the court that five well-respected citizens — Lev
Ponomaryov, executive director of the For Human Rights movement; civil
rights activist Sergei Kovalyov and Liudmila Alexeeva; and State Duma
deputies Ilya Ponomaryov and Oleg Shein – had agreed to vouch for his
client’s reliability.

On October 18, the Khimki Municipal Court likewise released Maxim Solopov from
police custody on his own recognizance. Like Gaskarov, Solopov has been
charged with disorderly conduct for his alleged participation in a protest
action outside the Khimki town hall.

The Campaign for the Release of the Khimki Hostages congratulates Maxim
Solopov and Alexei Gaskarov on their conditional release from police custody,
but believes that it has not achieved its goals and intends to keep fighting
until all charges against them have been dropped.

For more information, contact:

Tel: +7 915-053-5912

Email: info@khimkibattle.org

Website: http://khimkibattle.org

More on Khimki struggle in Avtonom.org:

http://www.avtonom.org/en/khimki


From www.khimkibattle.org through https://avtonom.org/node/13850

Moscow anarchists blocked the Minsk highway in solidarity with the Belarusian friends

Monday, October 04, 2010

(A slightly edited machine translation)
+++++++
Moscow anarchists blocked the Minsk highway in solidarity with the Belarusian
friends

We, a group of Moscow anarchists in the early morning on October 1 blocked
with burning tires Minsk highway between Odintsovo and Krasnoznamensk in
protest against the persecution of fighters for freedom and justice of the
fascist regime of Lukashenko.

With a symbolic act on the road linking Moscow and Minsk, we want to draw
attention to the Russian public on the important issue, which is covered.
Right now the capital of the Republic of Belarus in prison languishing good
and honest people - Niikolay Dzyadok Alexander Frantskevich and Igor
Truhanovich. All of them - the anarchists - the fighters for freedom,
equality and justice and against dictatorships in Belarus and worldwide.They
are accused of burning police stations and the Russian embassy (which was set
on fire on August 30 in solidarity with the defenders of Khimki Moscow region
forests, are now exposed to predatory harvesting, with the consent of the
authorities). This radical challenge to the Belarusian and Russian oppressors
served as a pretext for mass arrests, threats and beatings of social
activists. In fact - the main reason for the arrest of our comrades from
Minsk are their beliefs and active lifestyle - now they face major prison
time. In total, through the hands of the KGB and the police took dozens of
people - one of the detainees, Tatiana Seminischevu, the scoundrels in
uniform drove up to the fact that she cutted her veins - it was a miracle
that this did not resulted a serious harm. People get just released after
several days in a prison cell without charges, since there may not be any
evidence against an innocent person, "result" did not have. A similar fate
awaited many others - in this momentin the dungeons are only three guys whose
names are mentioned above - they Lukashenka and his henchmen, apparently set
out to avenge all his impotent anger and vile.

We call upon all honest and caring people in Russia and around the world: Help
people in distress! You feasible means of protest to the Belarusian
authorities and their representatives in Russia: the embassies, consulates,
Belarusbank, do not buy Belarusian goods, tell us about the situation, family
and friends - do not let the people rot in jail in silence - act in any
manner to which you have enough imagination ! Make a contribution.

You can also write and send a letter of support to those arrested: now he,
more than ever, we need the kind words, a sense of shoulder solidarity.

STOP INJUSTICE!

Video from the action:

http://rutube.ru/tracks/3639765.html?v=52bbfba5fb20dc90192f0d008b4abd03

Solidarity flames for recent arrested anarchists -- Minsk, Belarus

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Two unknown people have thrown two Molotov cocktail bombs at the door of the detention center on Akrestsina Street in Minsk early on Monday, BelaPAN reports.



The door caught fire as a result of the attack at 04:23 a.m.

The city’s Maskowski district police department instituted criminal proceedings under Part Two of the Criminal Code’s Article 339 that penalizes malicious hooliganism.

It was not immediately known whether anyone was grabbed in connection with the incident. The press office of the city police department would not comment the report.

An anarchist group named Friends of Freedom claimed responsibility for the attack, saying in a statement posted on the Internet in the evening that they wanted to show solidarity with six anarchist activists arrested at the end of last week on suspicion of involvement in the August 30 fire-bomb attack on the Russian embassy in Minsk.

The six young men were arrested after an anarchist group claimed responsibility for the attack on the Russian embassy, in which a diplomat’s Mazda 3 car was burned after two glass bottles containing a flammable substance were hurled into the embassy's territory at about 10 p.m. on August 30.

The group said that the attack was in response to the Russian authorities' crackdown on activists protesting plans to build a new Moscow-St. Petersburg highway through a forest north of the Russian capital city.

http://naviny.by/rubrics/english/2010/09/07/ic_news_259_351620/

Istanbul - Action in solidarity with Khimki Prisoners

On the night of 19th. September the embassy of the Russian Federation was attacked by a group of anarchists using the black color bombs.

The action which was made for solidarity with Alexei Gaskarov and Maxim Solopov, the two anarchists which were arrested because of their actions for defending the Khimki Forest, the flyers which were entitled as " Freedom for the Khimki Prisoners " were distributed.


After the action two activists were put under surveillance. After six hours of surveilance they were set free. The flyer which was distrubuted had a warnings for the Russian Goverment for releasing Alexei and Maxim.

The declaration of the action:

Освободим химкинских заложников!
(Free Khimki Prisonars)
The public had supported the demonstration which has been spontaneously realized by over 200 anti-facists and anarchists outside the town administration building, in defense of the Khimki Forest near the Moscow suburb of Khimki, which was at that time in the process of beings cutting down for the needs of big business. The authority had responsed to this demonstration with force and had arrested two well known social activists Alexei Gaskarov and Maxim Solopov one day later.
We are here for the solidarity with all the prisoner comrades who have been arrested as they campaign for their life in earth which is coveted by industrial capitalism in all quarters of the planet. And we are warning the russian government on release Alexei and Maxim!
Release Alexei and Maxim!
Our solidarity is behind the nations and our most powerful weapon !

Свобода Алексей и Максим
(Free Aleksei and Maxim)

Source: InternationalAforum

Eco-activists protecting Khimki Forest taken to the court

21 September,

On September 23, a Moscow city court is to consider legal action by the company contracted to build a highway through the Khimki Forest against the citizens that took part in the protection actions, Interfax reports.

Legal action has been brought against 11 individuals, including Evgenia Chirikova, the leader of the Movement for the Protection of Khimki Forest. The company is seeking damages to the sum of almost 8 million rubles (over US$250 000) for impeding machinery access to the construction site.

The case of the attack on the Russian Embassy downgraded to a heavy article of the Criminal Code, the period of detention issues

According to Indymedia-Belarus and several other portals criminal investigation into the attack on the Russian Embassy in Minsk turned into a more serious crime. It also reported that despite the fact that the charges were brought against nobody and there is no evidence base, the sentence detained activists extended for another 3 days. As the head of the Department of Information and Public Relations Alexander Lastovsky Minsk police are now investigating the crime are under fire. " Previously, a criminal case was instituted under "hooliganism". Under the Criminal Code of Belarus, the maximum penalty for disorderly conduct - three years imprisonment. For arson - up to eight years in prison. In the criminal case of Belarus special services detained seven activists of the anarchist movement, which is suspected of involvement in the incident at the Russian embassy. The names of the detainees:

• Igor Bogachek
• Valeria Khotin
• Sergei Slusar
• Nicholas Dzedok
• Alex Zhingerovsky
• Alexander Franzkevich
• Anton Laptenok

All detainees are held in remand prison in the street Akrestsin. Also today , September 6 at 12 am, law enforcement officials detained Tatiana Semenischevu.It remains to show whether or not to any charges. Following the extension of detention, it became clear that the authorities have no evidence of involvement of our friends in this incident! Therefore, we demand the immediate release of all prisoners! Friends and relatives of the detainees. Links: Attack of the anarchists in the IVS on the street.Akrestsina Street Australia: second day of the six detainees social activists are in detention center of Minsk on the street. Akrestsin Belarus: the kidnapping of social activists, members of "Law & quot; bodies

Six anarchists were detained in connection with the case of the arson of the Russian Embassy in Belarus

The officers of Belarusian law enforcement agencies detained six activists of anarchist movement.
BelaPAN reports, Ihar Bahachak, Valeriya Khotina, Siarhei Slyusar, Nikalai Dzyadok, Alyaksei Zhinherousky and Alyaksandr Frantskevich were detained on September, 3 about 6 a.m. by the officers of law enforcement agencies and are still under arrest in the detention center in Akrestin Street in Minsk. The detainees are interrogated on the subject of their involvement in the incident near the RF Embassy in Minsk, at the territory of which Molotov cocktails were pelted.
The agency reports, the young people were jointly renting a flat in one of the Minsk districts. Early in the morning the door bell rang in their flat and one of the young men opened the door. Law enforcement officers in civilian clothes burst into the flat and transported young men who were there to GUBOP Interior Ministry of Belarus for interrogation. The flat was searched; five computers, two laptops, mobile phones, money, posters and magazines were confiscated.
Maximal detention term without arraignment makes up 72 hours in Belarus. The prosecutor may prolong this term up to 10 days.
Law enforcement agencies do not comment the situation still.
The incident near the Russian diplomatic mission in Minsk took place in the evening on August, 30. At 22.20 the officers of Safety Department of Interior Ministry disclosed a burning service vehicle Mazda-3 while their walking around the territory of the embassy. At the place of the incident a glass bottle with the capacity of 0,33 liter with the remaining of combustible mixture and fragments of a broken glass bottle with the remaining of the fuse. The crime case according to article “Hooliganism” has been initiated on the fact of the incident.
On September, 2 internet resources belarus.indymedia.org and belarus.avtonom.org allocated a statement, which said that anarchists take upon themselves the responsibility for the attack of Russian Embassy in Minsk that took place in the evening on August, 30. “By this action we express our anger and protest against arrests of social activists who stood up for Khimki Forest in Moscow”, — the statement noted.
The statement was disproved by Russian activists, who stand up for Khimki Forest. They called it a provocation.

Assailants attack Russian embassy in Minsk with fire bombs

Assailants attack Russian embassy in Minsk with fire bombs

08:54 31/08/2010

© Photo Website of the Russian Embassy in Belarus

Unknown assailants attacked the Russian Embassy in the Belarusian capital of Minsk with fire bombs late on Monday, a local emergencies spokesman said.
"At around 10:50 p.m. local time (19:50 GMT), two fire bombs were thrown onto the territory of the Russian Embassy," the spokesman said. "One of them hit a car parked on the premises."
There were no casualties, he added.

The Russian Embassy in Minsk attacked anarchists

Thu, 02/09/2010 - 21:19 — editor

Responsibility for the recent attack on the Russian embassy, caused a stir in the press, claimed a group of Belarusian anarchists. Quote the statement posted on the website of Indymedia: In the evening on August 30 a group of anarchists was conducted attack with Molotov cocktails at Russian embassy in Minsk. Was damaged one of the official cars. By this action, we express our anger and protest against the arrests and repression against social activists, who defended forests Khimki Moscow. Our friends are beaten by mercenaries from among the fascists, riot police chases and screws all in a row, threats, detentions and arrests have become the norm.Our friends are forced to endure the hardships in the dungeons and live in fear of being planted, because it stood for truth, for the people, for the right to a normal environment. But bureaucrats and capitalists concerned only kickbacks and profits, they do not care what will happen tomorrow and they are ready to virulent measures to suppress any protest, any dissatisfaction. What's next, death squads? We stand in solidarity with our comrades, and support only direct methods of struggle, because they are afraid only of force on the rest of them do not care. It's funny to read reviews and discussions about the campaign on Internet forums.We are equally repugnant to all the mafia clans under the names "the rulers of Belarus" and "the rulers of Russia." A simple working people of both countries does not shine anything good from this political bickering for power, should not behave like this mendacious politicians. People, wake up! Can not do without conspiracy theories to justify any act of protest and discontent? Every day we see theft and lawlessness, but around only downcast glances and timid kitchen conversations.It's time to gather their strength and to believe that we deserve a better life. Freedom for all prisoners! No political repression! Down with the officials, gangsters and cops! Human rights and social justice!

http://belarus.avtonom.org/?p=15171

A Call for International Days of Action in Support of Alexei Gaskarov and Maxim Solopov September 17–20, 2010

On July 28, 2010, more than two hundred young antifascists and anarchists carried out a spontaneous demonstration outside the town administration building in Khimki, a suburb of Moscow. They demonstrated in defense of the Khimki Forest, which was at that time in the process of beings cutting down for the needs of big business. The demonstration, during which several windows were broken, received a great deal of public attention. The authorities responded with a wave of repressions. The day after the demonstration, two well-known social activists, Alexei Gaskarov and Maxim Solopov, were arrested. They are now threatened with up to seven years in prison for disorderly conduct, although there is no evidence of their complicity in illegal activities. Meanwhile, the police continue to hunt down and harass other activists, especially those involved in the antifascist movement.
The campaign to save the Khimki Forest has been going on for the past three years. The authorities had decided to build a segment of a planned Moscow–Saint Petersburg toll highway, the first of its kind in Russia, through the forest. This would lead to the deterioration of environmental conditions in the region, and local residents and Muscovites would be deprived of yet another recreation zone. Despite the availability of alternative routes that would not require clear-cutting the forest and vigorous protests by environmentalists and ordinary citizens against the planned route, the authorities f0r a long time ignored the voice of society and on several occasions took measures to suppress their critics.
Khimki authorities and the highway project contractor have used violence and other tactics against Khimki Forest defenders. Theyrefused to give permission for protest demonstrations, recruited nationalist thugs to break up a peaceful protest camp organized by environmentalists and local residents, and illegally arrested and beat up journalists covering the story. Nearly two years ago, Mikhail Beketov, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Khimkinskaya Pravda and a critic of the local administration, was severely beaten by persons unknown; the attack left Beketov permanently disabled. Sergei Protozanov, the layout designer of another local opposition paper, was murdered in similar circumstances six months later.
After the July 28 demonstration, the Russian police and secret services unleashed an unprecedented dragnet against antifascists. People who had even just once come to the attention of the Center for Extremism Prevention and FSB for their involvement with the antifascist movement have been forcibly taken in for questioning. In several cases they have been subjected to harsh physical coercion in order to compel them to give the testimony required by investigators. In addition, illegal searches have been carried out in their apartments. All these actions on the part of law enforcement authorities are violations of Russian and international law.
Frightened by the numerous and growing protests against the clear-cutting of the Khimki Forest, the authorities have finally made concessions by agreeing to review the advisability of the planned route for the toll highway. But this does not mean victory. Alexei Gaskarov and Maxim Solopov are still in police custody for no reason at all. They are hostages of the authorities.
In late September, the next hearing in their case will take place. The judge will decide whether to keep them in police custody pending completion of the investigation and trial. Everyone who cares about the fate of these two young men must do everything in their power to see that they are set free. The Campaign for the Release of the Khimki Hostages calls on people around the world to organize days of action on September 17, 18, 19, and 20 to pressure the Russian authorities to release Alexei and Maxim.
We ask you to hold protests outside of Russian Federation embassies, consulates, trade missions, and cultural centers, as well as at public events and concerts connected to Russia. We also ask you to send faxes, e-mails, and protest letters to the court, the prosecutor’s office, and the country’s political leadership. In the very nearfuture we will inform you of addresses where you can send these protests as well as more details about the ongoing repressions in Russia. Look for this information on our websitehttp://khimkibattle.org in English, German, Russian, and French.
Join our campaign!
Campaign for the Release of the Khimki Hostages
http://khimkibattle.org/?page_id=318&lang=en

In Chelyabinsk, a rock festival attacked, hundreds of Nazis. According to unconfirmed reports the girl had died 14 years.

Sun, 29/08/2010 - 

Scores of bare-chested skinheads have attacked a crowd of about 3000 people at a rock concert in central Russia, beating them with clubs, media reports say.
Dozens of people were left bloodied and dazed in Sunday's attack, television and news agencies reported, and state news channel Rossiya-24 said a 14-year-old girl was killed at the concert in Miass, 1400km east of Moscow.
Fourteen ambulances were called to the scene, the channel said, citing witness accounts. The motive for the attack was not known, and authorities couldn't be reached for comment. The ITAR-Tass agency said local police had refused comment.
Many of Russia's top rock acts were attending the Tornado rock festival, the agency said.
Attacks on dark-skinned foreigners in Moscow and St Petersburg by Russia's neo-Nazi skinhead movement have been relatively common in recent years. The January 2009 murder of lawyer Stanislav Markelov and journalist Anastasiya Baburova prompted a Kremlin crackdown on ultra-nationalists, who were blamed for the killings.
In April, a Moscow court banned the far-right Slavic Union, whose Russian acronym SS intentionally mimicked that used by the Nazis' infamous paramilitary. The group was declared extremist and shut down. At the time the group's leader, Dmitry Demushkin, told The Associated Press it tried to promote its far-right agenda legally and warned that the ban would enrage and embolden Russia's most radical ultra-nationalists.
Russia's ultra-nationalist movement is so deeply embedded in the country's culture that militant groups have sprouted up around Russia to fight it. Anti-racist groups regularly spearhead attacks on ultra-nationalists, sparking revenge assaults in an intensifying clash of ideologies.
Neo-Nazi and other ultra-nationalist groups mushroomed in Russia after the 1991 Soviet collapse. The influx of immigrant workers and two wars with Chechen separatists triggered xenophobia and a surge in hate crimes.
Racially motivated attacks, often targeting people from Caucasus and Central Asia, peaked in 2008, when 110 were killed and 487 wounded, an independent watchdog, Sova, said. The Moscow Bureau for Human Rights estimates that about 70,000 neo-Nazis are active in Russia - compared with a just few thousand in the early 1990s.






 

According to unconfirmed reports, there are casualties. IA Chelnov citing a source in law enforcement, wrote that from numerous stab wounds on the spot emergency dead girl 14 years. CHELYABINSK, August 29. Tonight at a rock festival "Tornado", which takes place on the territory of the Camp named Zoey Kosmodemyans'koi in Chelyabinsk, an armed napadenie.Okolo hundred Nazis broke into the rock festival "Tornado", held in the city of Miass, Chelyabinsk Region, and started beat present.According to available data, in the attack died from 3 to 7 people, more than 50 people were injured. According to eyewitnesses, a few hours ago at the gate which protected the entrance to the concert platform, the group of aggressive young men, it is estimated there were dozens. In their hands they had batons, sticks, metal objects. Threatening reprisals, they broke into the festival. At this point, sends an eyewitness, the police, who was at the event, inactive.As the correspondent of "Gazety.RU, attackers have also had a gun, were heard gunshots. Note rock festival Tornado held in the Chelyabinsk region, on Lake Turgojak. This new project of the festival organizers Ural abroad ". The festival featured such groups as "Czyz and Co", "Aria", "The King and the Jester," "Picnic", "Kukryniksy", "Anastasia," "Naive", "Black Coffee" and many others.

ru.indymedia.org

"United Russia" has no right to prohibit anyone to participate in the discussion of trails in the forest, Khimki

Sat, 28/08/2010 - 

Press release campaign for the release of hostages Khimki The Secretary of the Presidium of the General Council of United Russia Vyacheslav Volodin said today that the discussion of building highway Moscow-Saint Petersburg "will not be conducted with" looters "and" hooligans ". We declare that the "United Russia", as well as any other party is not entitled to decide who can participate in the discussion of some important social issues. Anarchists, anti-fascists, radical environmentalists are going to continue to participate in the campaign to save the forests Khimki, including in the public discussion, if indeed take place.They are no one can deny this, though, because they are citizens of Russia, as members of the ruling party. Authorities Khimki, together with the company-builder does not once use of violence against defenders Khimki forests: ignoring public opinion by refusing to agree on the protests, attracting nationalists to break up peaceful protests, environmentalists and local residents, illegally detaining and beating journalists.Animals are the ones who mutilated Michael Beketov attacked Eugene Chirikov, who are ready to kill and maim for the sake of their selfish purposes. Animals are the Nazis-mongers and those who hired them to disperse environmental camp. The protest about the administration Khimki was in response to that outrage, which continues in Khimki for many years. This was the "language" spoken by the authorities themselves. We will seek the release of Maksim Solopova and Alexei Gaskarova, as we believe that the charges against them does not correspondactual events that took place on 28 July, about the administration of the city of Khimki. Additional information: +7 (915) 053-59-12 info@khimkibattle.org http://khimkibattle.org

After the interrogation antifascist was taken to hospital with a brain injury

Sun, 29/08/2010 -

Aug. 26, three persons in civilian clothes, posing as employees of criminal investigation, was detained in Ramenskoye supporter movement "Antifa" Chernobaev Nikita Nikolayevich, born in 1991. Told ICD lawyer and human rights activist Mikhail Trepashkin. Nikita was taken to the Interior Ministry building, where already an employee of the FSB, began to demand from him, that he wrote about his presence near the administration building of the city of Khimki July 28, 2010. He succeeded in this first interview by phone to inform his mother that he was not allowed legal counsel and that he will sign anything he hears.The mother asked: "You beat?". Nikita said: "Yes." They let Chernobaev NN only at 1 am already 27 August 2010, after it was signed "confession" and an agreement on cooperation. After exiting the ATM's mother called an ambulance, because Nikita said that he dictated the text, which he had written, including the presence in the Khimki some people, but when he refused, they beat in the solar plexus, on the head, the other parts of the body, dressed head bag and blocked the air for breathing. After such torture, he signed everything without reading it.From the handcuffs were visible traces on his hands, his neck was visible band after being crushed, a black eye in the cheekbones, etc. Doctors ambulance brought Chernobaev NN in CDH, where doctors reported beating in the local police station. They recorded a statement. After that, the same three officers who beat Chernobaev NN, knocking him out of the right of a witness, attempted to pick up Nikita from the hospital.For this reason, he was transferred to a hospital in Moscow for security purposes. However, this step does not guarantee him a calm treatment. Who were these three individuals did not submit to anybody permits the detention declared Chernobaev NN, that they are from the criminal investigation, and during interrogation - from the FSB, had flatly refused to give their names, asked counsel Trepashkin. All who care about Chernobaev NN, telephone 8-496-46-342-10 may try to learn the names of people tortured him. It is with this phone they callDoes the mother of Nikita and tried to find out which hospital treated Chernobaev NN Is it possible to investigate hooliganism, where no one injured citizen, such inhuman practices? There should be a criminal case against those who beat up supporters of anti-fascists, as well as require that are not used anti-humane interrogation methods that lead to the fabrication of materials of the criminal case, said Mikhail Trepashkin.

Security forces opened hunt for anti-fascists. Press conference of the Campaign to protect the hostages Khimki

August 30, Monday, 12-00, Independent Press Center (st. Prechistenka, 17 / 9) In a press conference: - Alexander Bidin, antifascist, party campaign for Khimki hostages - Alexander cast, a journalist of Novaya Gazeta, forcibly removed from trains and taken for questioning in Khimki - Anastasia Huskey, organizer of the concert in Kostroma, torn out in force structures - Emil Baluyev, party animal protection movement, beaten by security forces visitor concert in Zhukovsky. For a month law enforcement agencies are unprecedented raid on anti-fascists.People, at least once come to the attention of the Centre for the fight against extremism and the FSB as anti-fascists in violation of law, forcibly transported for interrogation and in their flats are illegal searches. The police, the center of the "E" and the FSB to systematically disrupt concerts of groups expressing an anti-fascist stance, illegally detained, fingerprinted and beat concert goers, threaten criminal prosecution of the organizers of these events.There is a paradoxical situation: the reason for the detention and interrogation are the anti-fascist beliefs, or presence at the concert groups to publicly express their opposition to racial and ethnic discrimination. Thus, within a month the police and security agencies thwarted, at least three concerts. On July 31 Kupavna (Moscow region) had been illegally detained and passed the procedure of forced fingerprinting and photographing more than 50 people.August 21 policemen and riot police near Moscow broke a charity concert in Zhukovsky (Moscow region), unlawfully detained with about 70 people, at least ten of them were beaten. The same day, police officers, Secret Service, the center of the "E" and the riot was broken up long-distance festival in Kostroma, the premature withdrawal of one of the visitors suffered at the hands of the Nazis, more than 260 were detained, fingerprinted and subjected to illegal beatings, and address of the organizer of the concert began arriving yzRosa criminal prosecution by the staff of the center "E". Additional Information: 8-915-053-59-12, info@khimkibattle.org , khimkibattle.org

Actions in support of the campaign in Khimki took place in Berlin and Paris

Wed, 11/08/2010 - 13:52 — editorBerlin August 9 from 17.20 to 19 hours before the Russian Embassy in Berlin, the capital of Germany, was an action for the immediate release of Alexey and Maxim Gaskarova Solopova arrested after going to the administration of the city of Khimki. More than 30 people from the organization Anarcho-syndicalist Youth Berlin (ASJ Berlin) picketed the building on the Unter den Linden, with black and red flags with the slogan "Against repression" in Russian, German and English. Eyewitnesses claim that unlike some previous actions, the public, passing by the protesters, eagerly sorting bilingual leaflets "Freedom Lesha and Maxim!", Just handed out 700 leaflets. The crowd treated with speeches in Russian and German. Young anarcho-syndicalists demanded the immediate release of Alexey Gaskarova and Maxim Solopova, no talk! More information and photos will be published later.Details of the fight in Khimki in German see: de.indymedia.org/2010/08/287416.shtml Paris August 10 in the center of Paris action of solidarity with Russian activists.Several dozen people gathered Aug. 10 at the Piazza San Michele in the heart of Paris to show solidarity with the Russian people and Russian activists. The activists of political parties and movements (eg Green, TNA, Attac ...) as well as ordinary French citizens have expressed their support to the Russians, which has resulted in this ecological disaster, which led to the deaths of several dozen people. The participants also criticized the policy of the Putin-Medvedev that by changing the Forest Code, which led to this disaster, and asked the Russian government to stop pressure on environmentalists and activists, and release the anti-fascists who were detained without evidence. The protesters also expressed their disagreement with the draft new highway Moscow - St. Petersburg, which threatens to destroy the forest Khimki.The participants were asked the French company Vinci and the Russian administration to immediately halt deforestation, to explore alternative options. They also expressed their support for Eugenia Chirikov and motiontion in the protection of ecology of Moscow and Moscow region, they demanded the immediate cessation of any pressure from the authorities and law enforcement officials to ordinary citizens, environmentalists, activists, journalists and anti-fascists. The French also collected dozens of signatures, as well as encouraged to sign the text of the petition on the Internet: www.mesopinions.com / En-Russie - pendant-que-la-foret-brule-ses-defenseurs Source: Indymedia

Solidarity action with the defenders of the Khimki forest in Tel Aviv

Sat, 14/08/2010 - Today, the 13th of August there was a picket of solidarity with detained on trumped-up case Russian anti-fascists - Alexey Gaskarov and Maxim Solopov. About 30 demonstrators protested against terror of the Russian government and its cooperation with the Nazis, they also demanded the immediate release of political prisoners and to take action against those responsible for beating defenders  of Khimki forests, including the cops.
During the meeting, Putin was personally summoned to a straight up fight by one of the participators , who promised to "beat the Russian imperialism." Some time later, Revolutionary Confederation of Anarcho-Syndicalists  (RKAS) hanged a statement about the events in Khimki, as well as an invitation to free market to be held in the heart of Tel Aviv next Friday.
RKAS - Israel and the Committee for Workers' International  organised the picket.
Performance was organised by 4ert

The company "Vinci" recruits neo

Fri, 06/08/2010 - 03:34 — August 4, 2010 in St. Petersburg community activists came to the office VINCI, engaged in road construction projects in Khimki woods and asked to explain: why the biggest French company is cooperating with neo-Nazis, hiring them to disperse ekolagerya?

Solidarity with the Moscow anti-fascists in Ufa

The action of solidarity with the illegally arrested anti-fascists in Russia

Wed, 04/08/2010 - 05:02 — editor On Wednesday, August 3 in Odessa anti-fascists, anarchists and members of leftist movements held a rally of solidarity with Russian anti-fascists - Alexey and Maxim Gaskarova Solopovym, arrested for allegedly organizing the pogrom city administration Khimki (Moscow region), although no evidence of their involvement in the events of July 28 for illegal search the apartments of arrested had been found. In protest against such a cynical state of affairs in Russia and Moscow's support of their comrades held a march 20 people from the area on April 10 to the Russian consulate in Gagarinsky plateau (where the rally was held), carrying banners and placards and handing out leaflets explaining the essence of what has happened: During the construction of highway Moscow - St. Petersburg is planned cutting of the forest area near the city of Khimki.Environmentalists and civic activists are protesting against this construction, offering alternatives, not causing such harm nature.These options were rejected, and the territory through which could pass the road - sold for redevelopment. Activists who tried to resist cutting and journalists covering their activities, under pressure from local authorities interested in construction. After the start of logging (performed without proper authorization) for environmentalists have repeatedly been attacked by members of right-wing groups, hired by "Heat" . Police and riot police ignored the attacks, have repeatedly delayed the defenders of the forest on trumped-up reasons. After the 28 th July, a group of left activists held a symbolic assault on the City Hall Khimki Moscow has begun rounding up anti-fascists, now arrested all known representatives of the movement, regardless of their participation in the rally.Now in custody are Alexey and Maxim Gaskarov Solopov. Reports of their detention are falsified, such as it is written that the activists were arrested on the spot pogrom "in the act, while they were detained only a day later and the fact of their involvement in the riots nothing is not confirmed, Maxim Solopov front detention spoke on the radio. The main argument for the prosecution today is the fact that the detainees - the anti-fascists, as the evidence is tendered found them leaflets and stickers Antifascist content. According to our data, it is under special control of the Minister of Internal Affairs and the Presidential Administration.What is happening can not be explained by the desire to punish the perpetrators of disorderly conduct, then what happens - an absurd and irrational revenge power, people who tried to speak out against corruption and tyranny. We demand the release of Maksim Solopova and Alexei Gaskarova from custody, an end to illegal arrests of anti-fascists, honest and impartial investigation into the events of 28 th of without fraud and pressure on the defendants.We recall that the crime of "Heat" employing neo-Nazis to beat the defenders of the forest administration, Khimki, on the order of which was mutilated journalist Michael Beketov, policemen who did the illegal arrest and obstructing journalistic activities go unpunished. Illegal buildings, cutting down forests and parks in the pursuit of profit - the problem is relevant not only for Russia but for Ukraine.We remind the authorities of both countries, that the unwillingness to listen to the peaceful and legitimate demands of civil society activists inevitably gives rise to radical protest. The attempt to suppress the protest draconian methods leads not to order, and to Esklatsii violence and terror. During the picket, chanting slogans: "Plant a forest, and not activists," "Anti-fascism is not a crime", "Freedom Alexei Gaskarova and Maxim Solopovu "," Wood cut - Khimki burn "," We need a lot of Khimki "(paraphrasing the slogan of 68-year" We need a lot of Vietnams), etc. Source: http://afa.od.ua/2010/08/217

Thu, 05/08/2010 - 10:34 — editor May 4 Ufa anti-fascists and members of the "autonomous action" was an action of solidarity with the Moscow anti-fascists Gaskarova Alexey and Maxim Solopovym unlawfully detained after protests in Khimki. On the bridge at the intersection of Ave Salavat Yulayev and st. Sugita Agishev was posted on a banner with the inscription "Freedom for the Moscow anti-fascists". Also near the venue of the rally were scattered leaflets describing the situation around the interception and the description of arbitrary power. We remind you about what happened: July 28, more than five hundred anarchists and activists "antifa" smashed administration building Khimki in protest against the felling of forests Khimki.Masked men smashed windows with stones, painted the walls the words "save the Russian forest and threw smoke bombs building. In the morning on July 29 antifascist Alex Gaskarov was summoned for an interview at a local ATM. There he was literally handed over to the center of the "E" and taken to an unknown destination. Were violated most of the rules, which are described in the law "On militia".Do not have informations relatives, has not been sent a summons for detention. That evening, after a speech on the radio "Russian news service" antifascist Maxim Solopov was summoned for a talk at the metro station "Okhotny number. Max arrived at the meeting, but no conversation never took place. He just put in a car and drove away in Khimki. At night in the apartments and Gaskarova Solopova were searched. The apartment Gaskarova search was without warrant and to provide any papers, there was no inventory of the property and witnesses. At the moment, Khimki city court decided to detain Alexei Gaskarova for two months, while there is investigated the case.Also, the city court to detain second suspect in the attack on the administration of Khimki Maxim Solopova, arrest extended for two months. Thus, the suspects will be held in prison until early October. Lawyer Mikhail Trepashkin, earlier defended the anti-fascist Alexei Gaskarova, reported that police set against the detainee from other prisoners."Now the city increased, so have been caught various petty criminals, - lawyer .- They are kept together with the guys and the police kept telling them:" If it were not butchers, one would not catch you. " The children themselves told the judge about the threat of life. " We demand the immediate release of Alexey Gaskarova and Maxim Solopova, regardless of whether they participated in the action-heemkah July 28 or not - the fighters against corruption and lawlessness are not the hoodlums and heroes! Freedom Alexei Gaskarova and Maxim Solopovu!

Siberian sentence for self-defense, anti-fascists

  27 July 2010 was sentenced Barnaul antifascists Alexis C. By Art. 118 of the Criminal Code "grievous bodily harm through negligence." Antifascist protect themselves and others from the attack of neo-Nazis.
This story began exactly 10 months earlier, in the suburb of Barnaul - Novoaltajsk (Altai Territory). 27 September, late in the evening, two young men (among whom was antifascist Alex C.) in a dark alley caught up with three unknowns.From the first seconds of communication, it became clear that the "catch up" - followers of extreme right-wing political ideas, obviously not wanting to disagree "on the world". As a result, a few minutes after having argued primitive Alex to protect himself and his friend, was forced to apply a totally legitimate self-defense weapon gas "blow". There were two shots - one in the face bonheda, the second - already in dogonku - in the back of the victim.

A few days later, on Oct. 1, 2009, the home of Alexis C. Came employees' bodies and took him away for interrogation, during which it turned out the psychological impact of the staff heard the threats against Alexis, a promise by all means "hide behind the bars.

In April 2010 was brought up and sent to the Novoaltajsk City Court case on st.111 Criminal Code (deliberate infliction of grievous bodily harm).This was compounded by the fact that in the scuffle and the shooting of "Punch", 18-year-old bonhed Damen Sarsenovich Domains (Kazakh, born in Kemerovo), was injured in one eye and one hundred percent loss of vision.The official medical opinion is written: "contusion of the left eye and severe. Total posttraumatic retinal detachment eyes ", ie vision to it will never return.

The meeting considered the contradictory testimony of the victim and witness - first they said that Alexei S., a known anti-fascist, who allegedly had long had on their teeth, and he first attacked them. They later changed their testimony - now, they said, Alexey S. himself was neo-Nazi swastika risuyuschim everywhere, but they are late in the evening approached him "to ask" why he is doing.

The aggrieved party fielded a lawsuit Alexei, which requested the court to collect on their behalf nor more nor less than 15 million rubles - for serious injury and consequent psychological blow.Bonehead explained this amount so that now he "can not find a favorite work and not get into the army of Russia"

27 July 2010, the City Court Judge Novoaltajsk Sukharev, OA, Alexei sentenced to 180 hours of hard labor and a fine of 500,000 rubles in favor of the victim.During the case, the indictment article was translated from 111 to 118, in the absence of evidence of malice of the accused.

Antifascists Altai outraged such a huge amount of fine. We believe the amount is unreasonably high, and we intend to appeal to the relevant structures.

Sobkor

On arrests after direct action in Khimki 28th of July

Sat, 31/07/2010 
Today (30th of July) names of two activists, arrested in related to criminal case on “hooliganism” after attack against city administration of city of Khimki in Moscow region 28th of July were published in maintream news – Aleksey Gaskarov and Maksim Solopov.  
We will not now remind about details of corruption and violations, connected to construction of new Moscow – St. Petersburg highway through Khimki forest, or the protest campaign against it, as you may read about all of this in our website in respective section. Obviously, these arrests were just yet another confirmation of the pathetic unity, which was recently reached between regional and federal authorities, big business, local police and right-wing football hooligans, which all together protected against eco-camp of those protesting the clearing the forest from the highway.
Aleksey Gaskarov is a libertarian socialist, who during many years was one of the most active people in the movement in Moscow region. Maksim Solopov is a leftist, not an anarchists, but besides disagreements he proved him self to be a trusted comrade in anti-fascist struggle. Aleksey and Maksim are one of the few people in Russia, who publicly, with their own faces, supported most determined means against Nazi mayhem and excesses of the authorities in the country, take for example this program from REN-TV:




As a result, Nazis were threatening them plenty of times, and now apperently “Center of Counteraction Against Extremism”  of the Moscow Region decided to deliver them a blow.
We demand immediate release of Aleksey Gaskarov and Maksim Solopov, no matter if they participated to action in Khimki 28th of July or not – those fighting corruption and excesses of the authorities are not hooligans, but heroes!

Free Aleksey Gaskarov and Maksim Solopov!   

Information service of Autonomous Action

Russian Anarchist Mob Attacks Mayor's Office Near Moscow, Kommersant Says

- Jul 29, 2010 8:12 AM GMT Thu Jul 29 07:12:58 UTC 2010

Five hundred Russian anti- government activists attacked the office of a Moscow suburb’s mayor to protest the construction of a highway through a forest, Kommersant reported.
The protesters gathered in central Moscow yesterday and took a commuter train to the northern suburb of Khimki, armed with air guns and baseball bats, the newspaper reported. Police fled after being pelted with rocks and bottles and nobody was arrested, Kommersant said.
The anarchist youths set off flares and tried to chop down the main door of the mayor’s office with an ax, according to Kommersant. They spray-painted “Save the Russian Forest” on the walls of the building in the five-minute flash protest, the newspaper reported.
An environmentalist camp in the Khimki forest was attacked by a group of masked men over the weekend, Kommersant said. Mikhail Beketov, the editor of a local newspaper, was almost beaten to death in 2008 after campaigning to stop construction of a highway through the Khimki forest.