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UK and IRELAND

Antifascist Prisoners

Six comrades in the UK were recently found guilty in a trial for an alleged antifascist conspiracy. Four received 21 month sentences with the other two remaining unsentenced at the time of writing plus a further group await a second trial, it is therefore requested that people do not speculate on the circumstances of the case publicly or in letters to the comrades (letters are liable to being read by the screws at the Scrubs).

The six have been complaining about the notoriously poor food at the Scrubs and are having to supplement their diets from the prison canteen (shop) so would appreciate the odd postal order (made out to 'HMP Prison Services HQ' [previously had to be made out to 'the governor'] with the prisoner's name and prison number on the back). They can also receive books from the like of Amazon (or any other book distributor/shop) but there are restrictions on sending in many items (if in doubt phone the prison to check before sending). [see also our section on writing & sending things to prisoners]
UPDATE: Austen & Thomas have now been sentenced. [08/09/11]

Andy Baker (21 months)
A5768CE, HMP Highpoint, Stradishall, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 9YG [as of 9 August]
Update: Andy was released on HDC (electronic tag) on 30/12/11.

Thomas Blak (18 months)
Antifascist prisoner Thomas Blak has been freed but deported to his home country of Denmark. Refused release on electronic tag, and despite having lived and worked in London for 15 years, Thomas unfortunately had the option of either serving his full sentence and then having to apply for leave to remain whilst in immigration custody or to be deported. [17/11/11]

Sean Cregan (21 months)
A5769CE, HMP Coldingley, Shaftesbury Road, Bisley, Woking, Surrey, GU24 9EX [as of 5 August]
Update: Sean was released on HDC (electronic tag) on 30/12/11.

Phil De Sousa (21 months)
A5766CE, HMP Elmley, Church Road, Eastchurch, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 4DZ [as of 6 August]
NB: Phil is also having problems with his mail out going astray.

Ravinder Gill (21 months)
A5770CE, HMP Wayland, Griston, Thetford, Norfolk, IP25 6RL [as of 9 August]

Austen Jackson (15 months)
A5729CE, HMP Stocken, Stocken Hall Road, Stretton, Nr. Oakham, Rutland, LE15 7RD [as of 26 August]
If you are writing to Austen he asks if you could send a s.a.e. rather than sending stamps as they all seem to mysteriously(?) disappear before his letters reach him.

http://antifascistprisonersupportuk.wordpress.com/

Student & Anti-Cuts Protests Prisoners

A list of the current student and anti-cuts prisoners that we have confirmed are OK with having their details made public, and that have requested letters and support, can be found on the Student & Anti-Cuts Protests Prisoners page.

John Bowden, Prison No. 6729, HMP Shotts, Canthill Road, Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland, ML7 4LE.
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 prisoners rights.

SHAC Trial
In a dangerous precedent, heavy sentences were recently handed out to those involved in a legal campaign against vivisection, on the grounds that they were associated with illegal acts committed autonomously against the same targets, with no proof that they themselves had committed any such acts. For up to date information about these and other animal liberation prisoners see http://www.alfsg.org.uk/current_prisoners.html

Sheree Wilson (A0353AQ) & Aminata Camar,(TG8688), HMP Holloway, Parkhurst Rd, London, N70NU.
The Yarl's Wood 3 imprisoned in HMP Holloway since February 2010 for their part in a hunger strike at Yarl's Wood Immigration Detention Centre.
Update: Denise McNeil granted bail in January, the other 2 didn't get bail. Please write to them. Info: freedenisenow@gmail.com & http://www.ncadc.org.uk/campaigns/DeniseMcNeil.html

BELARUS

Dedok, Nikolai Aleksandrovich (Dziadok, Mikalai Aliaksandravich), IK-15, 213105, Mogilev, p/o Veino, Slavgorodskoe shosse, 5 km. KARANTIN, Belarus.

Frantskevich, Aleksandr Vladimirovich (Frantskevich, Aliaksandr Uladzimiravich), Valadarskaha str., 2, SIZO-1, k. 46, MINSK, Belarus.

Olinevich, Igor Vladimirovich (Alinevich, Ihar Uladzimiravich), IK-10, 211440, Vitebskaya obl., Novopolotsk, ul. Tekhnicheskaya, 8 KARANTIN, Belarus.

3 anarchists/activists (also known as Mikalaj Dziadok, Aleksander Frantskevich & Ihar Alinevich) originally remanded after a wave of repression by the Belarus state in the run up to presidential elections on 19 December (after which there was much more – at least 20 people still held in prison). Accused of minor actions but face over 6 years prison.
More info at: http://www.avtonom.org/en/node/14931

On the 27 May, judge Zhanna Khvoynitskaya sentenced the Belarusian anarchists Ihar Alinevich, Mikalaj Dziadok, Aliaksandar Frantskievich, Maxim Vetkin and Yeveni Slivonchik. The young men were accused of a number of political actions, including an attack against the Russian embassy in Minsk in August of 2010.

Ihar Alinevich received a sentence of 8 years 'hard regime' (restricted allowances for visits, mails, and packages and other "privileges"); Mikalaj Dziadok received 4.5 years 'hard regime' an Aliaksandr Frantskievich was sentenced to 3 years 'hard regime'. Maxim Vetkin was given a 4 year sentence in a low-security prison and Yevgeni Silivonchik was sentenced to 1.5 years in open regime prison after cooperating with the investigation and giving testimony against his co-defendants.

During following weeks (or months) the prisoners are put in a quarantine unit (not yet registered with a prison unit whilst being examined by the medics and put through registration - ay last for several weeks or months), therefore please note KARANTIN on the envelope. We will update when assigned to a unit.

NB: The names are given in both Russian and (Belarusian), as the prison register is conducted in Russian, but we recommend that you address mail using the first (Russian) names.

For more information: http://avtonom.org/en/node/15830

Vaskovich Evgeni Sergeevich (Vas’kovich Jauhen Siarheevich), IK-15, 213105, Mogilev, p/o Veino, Slavgorodskoe shosse, 5 km. KARANTIN, Belarus.

Jauhen was arrested, alongside 2 others, for an attack on the KGB headquarters in Bobruisk launched on 14 October 2010 in solidarity with Mikalai, Aliaksandr and Ihar. On 18 May he was found guilty of intentional destruction of property and sentenced to 7 years imprisonment with reinforced (hard) regime. Although not an anarchist, Belarus ABC is supporting him. [NB: mark mail KARANTIN for reasons outlined above]

For more information: http://www.autistici.org/abc-belarus/?p=91&lang=en

BULGARIA

Jock Palfreeman, Sofia Central Prison, 21 General Stoletov Boulevard, Sofia 1309, Bulgaria.
Jock Palfreeman is a 23 year old Australian who had the courage to stand up against 16 Nazis on a night out in Sofia, Bulgaria. He witnessed the fascists chasing and attacking two young Roma boys. Jock ran to the boys' aid, he did his best to keep the Nazis at bay by waving a knife at them but they attacked him. Jock was left with nowhere to run and had no choice but to defend himself. 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.
www.freejock.com

FRANCE

On November 11th 2008, French Anti-Terrorism Police arrested around twenty people, mostly in Tarnac, a small village in the Corrèze region of central France.  Nine were subsequently accused of “criminal association for the purposes of terrorist activity” in connection with the sabotage of train lines which had caused delays on the French railways, five of them were released on bail and two remain in custody. Very little evidence has been presented against them, but central to the prosecution is their alleged authorship of a book,  The Coming Insurrection, and their association with what the French government has termed the “anarcho-autonomous movement”. They and others are the victims of a witch-hunt in which the word “terrorism” is applied to any ideas and practices which challenge the status quo. An international movement is emerging in their support.

http://tarnac9.wordpress.com/

email contact: ussupportcommittee (at) gmail.com
To send letters, postcards, notes to the imprisoned, write to:
Comité de soutien aux inculpés de Tarnac, le bourg, 19170 Tarnac, France

GERMANY

Thomas Meyer Falk, JVA Bruchsal, Zelle 3117, Schoenbornstr. 32, 76646 Bruchsal, Germany:
In 1996, Thomas was sent down for a bank robbery. He'll be inside until at least 2010. 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 can now participate in education and other activities, but was not granted parole and is appealing this decision.
When writing, it's useful to include up to 3 IRC's (International reply coupons available from the post office) at a time.
For more info email: thomas_m_f@so36.net
or see http://www.freedom-for-thomas.de/

Aachen 4
On the 28th June 2004, near Aachen in the area of the German/Dutch border, police stopped a car with four people, including Spanish anarchist fugitives Jose Delgado and Gabriel Pombo da Silva, Begonia Pombo da Silva (Gabriel's sister) and Bart de Geeter. The car attempted to escape, and shots were exchanged between the police and the fleeing car.
Jose Fernandez Delgado: 14 years in prison
Gabriel Pombo da Silva: 13 years in prison

Gabriel Pombo da Silva, JVA Aachen, Krefelder Str. 251, 52070 Aachen, Germany
Jose Fernandez Delgado, Aachenerstr. 47, 53359 Rheinbach, Germany

Munich Squatters
Three young squatters are serving 5 years sentences after throwing stones at the police evicting their squat in 2007, an action which was inflated by the authorities into a charge of attempted murder:

Lukas Winkler, Marktplatz 1, 96157 Ebrach, Germany
Stephanie Träger, JVA Aichach, Münchner Straße 33, 86551 Aichach, Germany
Sven Maurer, Marktplatz 1, 96157 Ebrach, Germany
Also see http://www.hausbesetzerinnensoli.de.vu

GREECE

Christos Stratigopoulos, Dikastikes Filakes Koridallos, T.K. 18110, Athens, Greece.
Christos is an anarchist accused of armed robbery.

Yiorgos Voutsis-Vogiatzis, ASKA Filakes Kassavetias, Post Code 37100, Volos, Magnesia, Greece. Arrested in Oct 2007, and admitted to bank robbery, which he called an action against the the slavery of wage labour.

Yiannis Dimitrakis, Filakes Domokou, Post Code 35010, Fthiotida, Greece. Anarchist sentenced to 12.5 years for armed robbery of a bank

Ilias Nikolau, Prevantorio Amfissas, Post Code 33100, Amfissa, Fokida, Greece. Accused of an arson attack on a police station.

Polikarpos Georgiadis, A’ Pteriga, Filakes Koridallou, 18110, Koridallos, Athens, Greece. Polikarpos is accused of involvement in the kidnapping of a senior economic official.

Panagiotis Masouras, Filakes Anilikon Avlona, 19011, Avlona, Attiki, Greece
Haris Hatzimichelakis, ASKA Filakes Kassavetias, Post Code 37100, Volos, Magnesia, Greece
Accused of being members of the urban guerilla group "Conspriracy of the Cells of Fire“.

For more recent information about the many Greek prisoners see: http://actforfreedomnow.blogspot.com/2011/02/ updates-on-anarchistanti-authoritarian_06.html

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.

Il Silvestre Defendants
Eleven eco-anarchists in Italy were arrested on charges relating to alleged involvement in the magazine 'Terra Selvaggia', and accused of forming themselves into a direct action group known as COR (Revolutionary Offensive Cells) and carrying out a number of actions including acts of arson, targeting right wing politicians and targeting the construction site of a police station. There was practically no evidence against the 11, other than the fact Il Silvestre had published a COR press release in their magazine Wild Earth. However despite the lack of evidence, six of the eleven defendants were found guilty and have been handed sentences of between 3½ years to 6 years imprisonment.. 11 people faced trial. All are linked to the eco-anarchist group Il Silvestre. All were accused of COR activities.

To write to their support group:
Casella Postale 351, Livorno Centro, 57123 Livorno - ITALY
email: anarchicisolidali@virgilio.it

Daniele Casalini & Francesco Gioia have been aquited of the charges of blowing up electricity pylons but were found guilty and sentenced to four years for bank robbery. Also a third person, Leonardo Landi, has been sentenced to 6 years for robbery but found not guilty of subversive association:

Leonardo Landi, Carcere San Michele, Via Casale, 50/A, 15122 San Michele (AL), Italy.

Two people arrested in pre-trial detention on charges of attempted sabotage, car theft and subversive association:

Sergio Maria Stefani, Carcere San Michele, Via Casale, 50/A, 15122 San, Michele (AL), Italy.
Freed in early August 2010.
Antonio Mescia, c/o Casa di Reclusione di Civitavecchia, Via Aurelia, km 79,600 00053 – Civitavecchia (RM), Italy.
Antifascist activist arrested in Naples on 1st May 2010, after a fight between activists and fascists at the yearly International Workers' Day demo. Check out the support blog for more info in English: http://www.toninolibero.org/english/

Carmelo Musumeci, Casa Circondariale, Via Maiano 10, 06049 Spoleto (PG), Italy.
Anarchist lifer who has already spent more than 20 years in jail. Carmelo has done numerous hunger strikes, is a prolific writer and an active campaigner for the abolishment of life detention (check out the organisation he's involved with at: http://www.informacarcere.it/ campagna_ergastolo.php?language=uk

Mauro Rossetti Busa, Casa Circondariale, Via San Biagio 6, 81030 Carinola (CE), Italy.
Social prisoner arrested numerous times. Arrested again in 2004 for robbery, and accused of arson attacks. Mauro is accused of subversive association and “being part of an anarcho-insurrectionalist group”. Mauro's been hassled for his contacts and friendships with people and groups on the outside.

Claudio Latino; Davide Bortolato; Alfredo Davanzo; Bruno Ghirardi; Vincenzo Sisi; Massimo Gaeta; Salvatore Scivoli; Massimiliano Toschi
Casa Circondariale, Via Tre Fontane 28, 88100 Siano (CZ), Italy.

On 12th February 2007, after a massive police operation called Tramonto (Sunset) that involved more than 500 armed officers and helicopters, 15 anarcho-communist activists were arrested. Some of them are militants, some only sympathisers, workers and students, some are only acquaintances of the so-called “terrorists”.

RUSSIA

Aleksey Bychin, FBU OIK-2 IK-7 otryad No. 12, ul. Karnallitovaya d. 98, g. Solikamsk Permskiy Kray, 618545 Russia.
Antifascist sentenced in May 2009 to 5 years for fighting with neo-nazis. Continues to de held in prison despite previous update the he had been released. [13/11/10]

SPAIN

The Cordoba Four
The Malaga court of appeal sentenced the anarchists Giovani Barcia, Michele Pontolillo and Claudio Lavaza, already sentenced to 11 years on September 1999, for an incident in the Italian vice-consulate in December 1996. Three persons wearing balaclavas imprisoned the consul and an employee, sending a message of solidarity to the Italian prisoners jailed by the Judge Marini (the judge who built a false accusation against Italian anarchists) and disappeared with passports and some money. These three Italians were convicted of this, as well as a previous bank robbery with sentences of 49 years for Claudio, 48 years for Giorgio and Giovani, 3 years for Michele. Write to them:

Claudio Lavazza, C.P. Teixerio – Curtis, Mod. 11, Carretera de Paradela s/n, 15310 A Coruña, Spain.

Giorgio Rodriguez
Disappeared when out of prison on three days release Summer 2009.

Giovanni Barcia, C.P.El Acebuche, Ctra. Cueva de los Úbeda, km 2,5, 04071.- El Acebuche, Almería, Spain.

Jose María Pirla Olivan
CP de Albolote. Ctra. Comarcal 220, Km. 6 – 18220, Albolote (Granada), Spain.
An anarchist comrade who has been in prison for 30 years and who currently has an on-going campaign for his release. See: Campaign To Release Jose Maria Pirla Oliván.

SWEDEN

Jonatan Strandberg, Anstalten Storboda, 19595 Rosersberg, Sweden.
Serving a sentence for ELF actions in which a communication tower connected to the Department of Defence was sabotaged with a firebomb, and a building crane in a urban sprawl project and seperately a logging truck were sabotaged.

SWITZERLAND

Marco Camenisch, Justizvollzugsanstalt Lenzburg, Postfach 75, 5600 Lenzburg, Switzerland.

Marco is a Swiss anarchist and evironmental activists who has been in prison since 1989. He is serving a 18 year sentence: 10 years for using explosives to destroy electricity pylons leading from nuclear power stations and 8 years for the murder of a Swiss Border Guard whilst on the run. In 2002 Marco completed a 12-year sentence in Italy for destroying electricity pylons in Italy as part of a sabotage campain against the nuclear industry.

Solidarity is our weapon: let's use this weapon by sending cards and greetings to Marco. [9/10/10]

Luca (Billy) Bernasconi, Gefängnis Pfäffikon, Hörnlistrasse 55, 8330 Pfäffikon (ZH), Switzerland
Costantino Ragusa, PF 3143, 8105 Regensdorf, Switzerland
Silvia Guerini, c/o Bezirksgefängnis Zürich, Postfach 1266, CH – 8026 Zurigo, Switzerland

All 3 were arrested near Zurich Switzerland in April 2010. Their car was stopped and searched by the police that found explosives, gas bottles, incendiary devices and communiques signed ELF Switzerland about a planned attack on a construction site for the new IBM research center of nanotechnologies in Ruschlikon, Zurich. All mail is translated by the state into German and censored, so don’t send anything overtly political or they may not get it. More info with English page at: http://www.silviabillycostaliberi.tk/

STOP PRESS: On 22 July 2011 Costa was sentenced to 3 years and 8, Billy to 3 years and 6 months (plus 22 days from a prior sentence) and Silvia, 29 to three years and four months. Each of the three sentences will be reduced by one year and three months, the amount of time the three had spent in pretrial detention.