INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russia has crept upward since the start of the war in Ukraine, as wartime censorship laws have been used to put both independent journalists
and opposition activists behind bars.At the same time, the risks of attending anti-Kremlin protests have increased dramatically and hundreds
Russian regime.Yuri ZhdanovIvan Zhdanov / InstagramAbout 25 Russians were present at the December writing event attended by Yelsakova in
Yerevan, which was organized by Kovcheg, an international group supporting Russian emigres and activists, and Uznik.Online, a project
helping political prisoners.Like others in her letter-writing group, Yelsakova said that she largely avoids mentioning politics and recent
His son, Ivan Zhdanov, a close ally of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, is living abroad to avoid arrest.In return, Zhdanov writes
most valued means of communication with the outside world.St
Petersburg artist Alexandra Skochilenko, who was arrested in April for replacing grocery price tags with information about alleged Russian
prison if convicted, wrote in a recent letter published by Uznik.Online.Prisoners have even used court appearances to urge more people to
Caucasus to Austria, the Netherlands and the U.S
project estimated that correspondents sent at least 2,500 letters to political prisoners through it last year.Veteran human rights
organization Memorial has said there are at least 500 political prisoners currently in Russian jails, with another 500 ongoing political
not respond to a request for comment for this story.For some prisoners, letters are one of the few sources of independent information about
letters for Russian political prisoners in Tbilisi, Georgia..Uznik online / instagramHe also pointed out that some inmates are estranged
from their families, who may disapprove of their political activism.In some cases, letter writers and prisoners become pen pals and stay in
jailed journalist Mikhail Afanasyev wrote in a letter published by Uznik.Online while in a detention center in the Siberian city of
riot police officers who had refused deployment to Ukraine; rights groups deem his case to be politically motivated.A number of
both incoming and outgoing correspondence.Darina Mayatskaya, a coordinator for Kovcheg in Yerevan, said at the letter-writing event that
girlfriend, Mironova.In addition to providing psychological support, letters can help shield inmates from abuse by prison guards, who may
