Lijst met anarchistische gevangenen: http://www.brightonabc.org.uk/prisoners.html
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UK and IRELAND
Emma Sheppard, A7372DJ, HMP Send, Ripley Road, Woking, Surrey, GU23 7LJ. [Updated: 15/06/15]
On February 24, 2015, anarchist prisoner Emma Sheppard was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment at Bristol Crown Court for “committing criminal damage recklessly endangering life”. The charge relates to damage of police cars in the Bristol area.
This is the first conviction under Operation Rhone; an investigation led by 10 CID officers to investigate over 100 actions of anonymous attack in the Bristol area over the past four years, gather intelligence on the broader anarchist movement, as well as hunting for the fugitive comrade Badger, who fled in August 2011. However, Emma’s arrest and guilty plea relating to a sabotage on New Year’s Eve appears to be a stand-alone case and was not the result of Operation Rhone work – even if they got involved afterwards.
For donations, news & any other solidarity efforts relating to Emma, email: bristol_abc[at]riseup.net
We also have a page of Emma’s letters from prison
John Bowden, A5026DM, HMP Whitemoor, Longhill Road, March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 0PR, England. [Updated: 16/07/15]
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.
UPDATE: John was ghosted to HMP Durham, via HMP Edinburgh, without either the parole board or the probation service being informed (the latter had dispatched a probation officer from London to visit him at Shotts the day after he was transferred). When he arrived at Durham they appeared to know nothing about why he was transferred, where he was ultimately bound, or even who he was. All records of him had been removed from the English prison system computers whilst he’d been in Scotland. He hoped that might mean he’d be transferred to a minimum security jail from there, but eventually reception staff contacted a senior manager and were told that the prison service HQ in London stipulated that he was to be transferred to Whitemoor high security jail in a week or two. He has since been tranferred. [16/07/15]
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 Wakefield, 5 Love Lane, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF2 9AG, UK. [correct as of: 27/03/15]
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
Brest Anti-Fascists Arrests
Late on the evening of May 8, 2014, in Brest, Belarus a fight between anti-fascists and neo-Nazis took place. The reason for the fight was a nazi provocation. One of the nazi began raising his hand in Roman salute and shouting “Zieg Heil” and “White Power”. Except that the anti-fascists were better skilled in fighting, so one of the nazis ended up hospitalised.
Beginning on the evening of May 9, cops started to arrest the anti-fascists that they knew. First the flats of two anti-fascists were searched, their computers and laptops where taken and the guys were detained for 10 day terms. At the morning of May 10, the searches continued. Four more flats were searched and again computers and some personal items where taken by police. One of the anti-fascists was not at home, so he remain free and three others were detained.
One of the detained anti-fascists, Vladimir Dudorga, had been threatened by KGB officers before because of his active anti-fascist position. Dudorga was later released Dzmitry Z. and Dzmitry S. currently remain behind bars. [Updated: 01/08/14]
Dzmitry Zvan’ko, 225295 Brestskaya oblast, Ivatsevichi, p/b 20, IK-22, Volchi Nory, Belarus.
Dzmitry Stsyashenka, 225875, Brestskaya oblast, Kobrinski r-n, d. Luschiki IUOT № 6, Belarus.
[addresses correct as of 01/06/14]
Dzmitry Z. and Dzmitry S., two of those detained, were recently transferred to penal institutions. Dzmitry Zvan’ko’s appeal was not granted; the sentence remained the same — 5 years of prison. He will also have to pay about 4,000 euro to the injured neo-Nazi, plus some 500 more legal expenses to the State. [Updated: 01/06/14]
Nikolai Aleksandrovich Dedok (Mikalai Aliaksandravich Dziadok), – currently in transit to a maximum security penal colony. [correct as of 04/03/15]
Igor Vladimirovich Olinevich (Ihar Uladzimiravich Alinevich), 211300, Vitebskaya obl., Vitebsky r-n, p. Vitba, IK-3 BELARUS. [correct as of 01/08/14]
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.
More info at: http://www.avtonom.org/en/node/14931
On the May 27, 2011, 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’ and Aliaksandr Frantskievich was sentenced to 3 years ‘hard regime’ [has since been released]. 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.
UPDATE: On February 26 Mikalai Dzyadok was tried in Mahilyou prison on 16 charges of violating prison rules, such as wearing sportswear suit instead of prison uniform, sleeping after ‘Wakey’ signal, not sleeping after lockdown, talking to prisoners from other cells. The prosecutor asked for the court to punish Mikalai Dzyadok by 1 year in a maximum security penal colony, the maximum term under this article. Such cases are extremely rare but the judge sentenced him to one more year in prison. Dziadok was supposed to be released on March 3, 2015 after serving his pprevious four-and-a-half-year term, but such is the way in which dissenting prisoners are treated in Belarus. [04/03/15]
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.
Also, during the initial weeks (or months) of imprisonment prisoners are put in a quarantine unit (not yet registered with a prison unit whilst being examined by the medics and put through registration – may last for several weeks or months), therefore please note KARANTIN on the envelope where appropriate.
For more information: http://avtonom.org/en/node/15830
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.
For more information: http://www.autistici.org/abc-belarus/?p=91&lang=en
Artsiom Prakapenka, IK-15, Slavgorodskoye shosse 183, g. Mogilev 212013, Belarus. [correct as of 18/07/14]
Detained on January 17, 2011 on suspicion of the attack on the KGB headquarters in Bobruisk launched on October 14, 2010 in solidarity with the anarchists arrested in September 2010.
Artsiom comes from Grodno and studied in Bobruisk. On May 18, 2011 was found guilty of intentional destruction of property and sentenced to 7 years of colony with reinforced regime.
UPDATE: [18/07/14] Artsiom is nearing the half way mark in his sentence when it will be reviewed and it could be increased or he may even be freed. [see: here]
NB: It is possible to send on-line letters to Belarusian prisoners via the ABC Belarus website.
See also: wiki.avtonom.org for up-to-date listings of prisoners in the ex-Soviet Union.
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
CZECH REPUBLIC
Operation Fenix
At the end of April 2015, ‘anti-extremism’ police in the Czech Republic carried out a series of raids on members of the anarchist and anti-authoritarian left scene, under the ostentatious title of Operation Fenix. Over 30 people have beene arrested and some remain in custody, accused of being ‘terrorists’. When more information emerges about any charges or remands to prison, we will carry updates on the situation. In the meantime, you can checkout the support blog for those arrested: http://antifenix.noblogs.org/
FRANCE
Damien Camelio, CP Mont de Marsan, Chemin de Pemegnan, BP 90629, 40006 Mont de Marsan Cedex, France. [Correct as of: 11/08/14]
Damien is a 31-year-old anarchist anti-fascist member of GADI (Groupe Action Directe International) who has been sentenced to 2 years in prison for his alleged part in the firebomb attacks in Tarbes (on December 25, 2013 at Tarbes prison and 2 days later on a French Army building) and in Pau (on a Christian Science church on February 8, 2014).
[Source]
GERMANY
Thomas Meyer Falk, c/o JVA (SV-Abtlg.), Hermann-Herder-Str. 8, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany. [Updated: 06/09/13]
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: 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 [since transferred back to Spain]
Jose Fernandez Delgado, Aachenerstr. 47, 53359 Rheinbach, Germany.
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.
Haris Hatzimichelakis
Panayiotis Argyrou
Dikastiki Filaki A Pteryga, Koridallos, TK 18110, Athens, Greece. [Updated 05/02/13]
Both are serving 25 years in prison out of a total sentence of 37 years for their part in the so-called “Halandri Case”. They are currently awaiting future Cells of Fire trials. [for more information, see Inter Arma]
Damiano Bolano
Giorgos Nikolopoulos
Michalis Nikolopoulos
Dikastiki Filaki A Pteryga, Koridallos, TK 18110, Athens, Greece.
Christos Tsakalos # [Transfered to the ‘special wing’ in the basement of the womens’ section of Korydallos prison. Updated: 05/01/15]
Damiano Bolano is 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.
Christos Tsakalos is serving 7 years for being member of CCF and charges stemming from the ‘Halandri case’ trial.
Olga Economidou, Central women’s prison, TK 18110, Koridallos, Athens, Greece.
Giorgos Polydoras
Dikastiki Filaki A Pteryga, Koridallos, TK 18110, Athens, Greece. [Updated 02/02/14]
Gerasimos Tsakalos # [Transfered to the ‘special wing’ in the basement of the womens’ section of Korydallos prison. Updated: 05/01/15]
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, Dikastiki Filaki A Pteryga, Koridallos, TK 18110, Athens, Greece. [Updated 02/02/14]
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:
https://interarma.info/en/
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.
Cells of Fire-related cases
In the latest trial, Giannis Naxakis, Nikos Romanos, Giannis Michailidis, Dimitris Politis, Argiris Dalios, Fivos Harisis and Grigoris Sarafoudis have gone on trial on February 3, 2014 in the special court in Koridallos’ women’s prison for a series of bank robberies, clashes with the cops, etc.
“Halandri” & “Nea Smyrni Case” related prisoners:
Giorgos Karagiannidis
Alexandros Mitrousias
Dikastiki Filaki A Pteryga, Koridallos, TK 18110, Athens, Greece. [Updated 12/04/13]
They deny being members of the Cells of Fire. Giorgos and Alexandros were both tried in the so-called “Halandri case” and sentenced to 20 years and 11 years in prison respectively. All 3 are currently on trial for the “Nea Smyrni case” (on charges of forming an “unnamed terrorist organisation”) and are facing further Cells of Fire-related charges. Here is a link to a recent statement.
Update: Kostantinos Sakkasescaped his ‘conditional
freedom’ and has gone underground. One of his co-accused in the same case, Stella Antoniou, who was free on bail was arrested and detained again recently. [source]
Tasos Theofilou, Dikastiki Filaki A Pteryga, Koridallos, TK 18110, Athens, Greece.
Anarchist communist Tasos Theofilou has been sentenced to 25 years in prison in connection with an armed robbery in Paros on 10/8/2012 during which a taxi driver, Dimitri Micha, was killed. He was found guilty of two felony charges: participating in a robbery with his physical characteristics covered, and being an abettor in manslaughter committed in a calm mental state. He was also convicted of three misdemeanors: carrying a firearm, forgery (accusation relating to vehicles of the robbers), and accepting the proceeds of crime (the getaway car of the robbers). However, he was found not guilty of membership of a terrorist organisation (namemly C.C.F.), possession of explosives and ordnance, forgery of five identification cards, use of a firearm, and two attempted homicides.
The verdicts were based solely on a single piece of ‘evidence’, DNA from a hair allegedly found on a hat that had supposedly been dropped by the fleeing robbers. None of the eye witnesses recognised Theofilou and the court itself found that he was not a member of the organisation that prosecutors accused of having been involved in the robbery i.e. C.C.F.. [Updated: 11/02/14]
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 organization 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.
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).
Kostas Gournas # [Transfered to the ‘special wing’ in the basement of the womens’ section of Korydallos prison. Updated: 05/01/15]
Vaggelis Stathopoulos and Christoforos Kortesis were sentenced to 8 and 7 years’ imprisonment, respectively. The sentence against Vaggelis Stathopoulos was merged into 7 years and 6 months.
Marie Beraha, Sarantos Nikitopoulos and Kostas Katsenos were acquitted on the benefit of doubt.
In addition, for all five convicted anarchists, the judges’ decision provided for deprivation of their political rights (5 years for the three admitted members of Revolutionary Struggle, and 3 years for the other two anarchists, Vaggelis and Christoforos, who denied R.S. membership). [source]
NB: Christoforos Kortesis and Vaggelis Stathopoulos have since been conditionally released (€2,000 bail, obligation to present himself twice a month at his nearest police station, ban from leaving the country). [04/04/13 & 09/07/13]
Nikos Maziotis # [Transfered to the 5th wing of the new type C prison in Domokos. Updated: 03/01/15]
Nikos was on the run for two years, was seriously wounded and arrested on July 16, 2014, after a shootout with cops in Monastiraki. He was then transferred to the tightly-guarded Evangelismos hospital, where he was hospitalised and has since been transferred to the new type C maximum-security prison in Domokos. [Updated: 30/12/14]
Rami Syrianos, D2 Pteriga, Filakes Domokou, Τ.Κ. 35010, Domokos, Fthiotida, Greece. [Correct as of: 31/08/14]
Rami is a non-aligned anarchist who was sentenced on 28/05/12 to 8 years & 8 months for a January 2011 armed robbery in Thessaloniki expropriating money from a government auction house.
Andreas-Dimitris Bourzoukos
Argiris Dalios
Fivos Harisis
Giannis Michailidis
Dimitris Politis
Dikastiki Filaki A Pteryga, Koridallos, TK 18110, Athens, Greece.
Giannis Naxakis
Grigoris Sarafoudis
Geniko Katastima Kratisis Domokou, Ε Pteryga, 35010 Domokos, Fthiotida, Greece. [correct as of: 20/01/15]
Both transfered to the 5th wing of the new type C prison in Domokos. [Updated: 05/01/15]
Nikos Romanos
Avlona Special Youth Detention Centre, 19011 Avlonas, Attica, Greece.
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 are 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 are accused of taking part in a gunfight with cops in Pefki. Foivos Harisis and Argyrhs Dalios were arrested on 20/04/2013 in Nea Filadelphia, Athens and are also accused of robbery. Argyris and Foivos deny the accusations and their prosecution is based solely on DNA samples collected from the area where the robbery took place. Argyris Dalios is 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 are also accused of being members of CCF, something that both they and CCF deny.
The trial for Velvedo case has started on 30/11/2013 and the trial for all the other cases on 03/02/2014. [source] [Updated: 05/02/14]
The trial of Grigoris Sarafoudis and Yannis Naxakis for the ATE Bank robbery in Purgetos began on Monday 31 March. [source] [Updated: 15/04/14]
Giannis Naxakis & Giorgos Sarafoudis were recently imposed with 16 years for bank robbery and will be moved from Korydallos soon. They will appeal the sentence, but Giannis will not appear at the appeal trial nor request a lawyer. [source]
Evangelos Koutsibelas [released Oct. 24, 2014]
41-year-old anarchist Vaggelis Koutsibelas has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment (with the right to appeal) and a 300 euro fine – the prosecution initially requested a total of 27 years in prison – for a string of arson attacks that took place in the city of Trikala during March and April 2012. The main evidence against him appears to have been a police informant, who admitted that the cops had forced him to sign a forged testimony because he had drug charges hanging over him, and whose evidence was refuted by the defence. Other evidence that Vaggelis was in fact elsewhere at the time of one of the arsons was ignored by the court. [Updated: 11/03/13]
Update: Following a decision by the court of appeals to reduce his sentence (to eight years and three months), Evangelos became eligible for conditional release and was paroled on October 24, 2014. He must now report every month to the Trikala police department and reside in the home he has established as permanent residence until completion of the remainder of his sentence. [Updated: 30/10/13]
Andreas Tsavdaridis & Spiros Mandylas were both released from Korydallos prison on Monday 12, 2015, as the 18-months pre-trial detention that was imposed on them has finally ended. Both had been arrested in connection with the sending of a parcel bomb to the former commander of anti-terrorist agency, Dimitris Xorianopoulos, in July 2013, and which Andreas had claimed as part of the ‘Phoenix’ project (act 4). He was arrested on 11/07/2013. Andreas & Spiros were being prosecuted for all acts of the project in Greece, as well as for allegedly being part of the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire, and both he and Spiros had recently been transfered to the ‘special wing’ in the basement of the womens’ section of Korydallos prison. Spiros had denied all the charges against him. [Updated: 13/01/15]
For more recent information about the many Greek prisoners, see: https://interarma.info/en/
# 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.
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.
Nicola Gai
Alfredo Cospito
C.C. Ferrara, Via dell’Arginone 327, ΙΤ-44122 Ferrara, Italy.
[Correct as of: 27/10/14]
[NB: Nicola and Alfredo’s mail has been censored since the date of their arrest and on November 22, 2012, the preliminary investigation judge extended that censorship for another three months.]
Nicola Gai and Alfredo Cospito were arrested on 14th September 2012 and accused of being the perpetrators of the shooting of Roberto Adinolfi, CEO of the nuclear energy company Ansaldo Nucleare (which is owned by the
arms manufacturer Finmeccanica), an action carried out by Olga/FAI/FRI nucleus on 7th May 2012. Nicola and Alfredo are being kept in custody in the prison of San Michele in Alessandria, in the high surveillance AS2 unit. They will go on trial for attack with purposes of terrorism (art 280), according to the charges pressed by public prosecutors Silvio Franz and Nicola Piacente.
At their 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, Alfredo was given ten years and 8 months in prison and Nicola 9 years and 4 months.
In early May 2015, the Supreme Court decided to reduce the sentences of comrades Alfredo Cospito and Nicola Gai. The final sentences are:
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: 12/05/15]
‘Operazione Ardire’ Defendants
At 4 o’clock in the morning of June 13th, 2012, the carabinieri of the Special Operations Group (Raggruppamento Operativo Speciale, ROS) raided around forty homes, implementing the so-called ‘Operazione Ardire’ (Operation Boldness), a crackdown against people from the anarchist movement ordered by Manuela Comodi, public prosecutor of Perugia. A total of 10 arrest warrants were issued – eight within Italy, one sent to Germany and one sent to Switzerland – while 24 suspects have been placed under judicial investigation.
The eight comrades, Stefano Gabriele Fosco, Elisa Di Bernardo, Alessandro Settepani, Sergio Maria Stefani, Katia Di Stefano, Giuseppe Lo Turco, Paola Francesca Iozzi and Giulia Marziale, who were arrested in Pisa, Roma, Perugia, Genova and Terni, have been remanded in custody. Additionally, in Germany and Switzerland precautionary measures were ordered against Gabriel Pombo Da Silva and Marco Camenisch. Among the names of investigated suspects are also those of some imprisoned comrades that are prosecuted in the Conspiracy of the Cells of Fire cases in Greece.
UPDATE: The charge of terrorist association (270bis) has been dropped at the request of prosecutor Manuela Comodi, but the comrades are to stand trial for some specific offences (walls daubing, etc.), with the aggravating circumstance of terrorism. [22/01/14]
For further background on ‘Operazione Ardire’, see actforfree.
Genoa 10
The Italian High Court confirmed on Friday 13th July the sentences for the 10 activists were guilty of devastation and looting crimes against private property and sentenced on 13/07/12 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.
Marina Cugnaschi, C.C. Bollate, Via Cristina Belgioioso 120, ΙΤ-20021 Milano, Italy. [Correct as of: 27/10/14]
Alberto Funaro
Francesco Puglisi,
Casa di Reclusione di Rebibbia (Roma), Via Bartolo Longo 72, ΙΤ-00156 Rome, Italy. [Correct as of: 27/10/14]
Luca Finotti, C.C. Trento, Via Beccaria 13, Loc. Spini di Gardolo, ΙΤ-38014 Gardolo (TN), Italy. [Correct as of: 27/10/14]
Anarchist comrade Francesco ‘Jimmy’ Puglisi, who 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.
Francesco Carrieri, C.C. Roma Rebibbia, Via Bartolo Longo 92, ΙΤ-00156 Roma, Italy. [Updated: 18/10/13]
Francesco Carrieri, one of the comrades arrested following the events on October 15 2011 in Rome, has been accused of breaking his bail conditions and sent back to jail.
No-TAV Defendants
The campaign against the building of the Turin-Lyon high speed rail link has been running for 20+ years and regularly produces new arrests as the Italian State tries to suppress resistance.
Chiara Zenobi, Niccolò Blasi, Claudio Alberto and Mattia Zanotti were arrested on December 9, 2013, and accused of committing an act of sabotage occurred in May 2013 against the high speed railway (TAV) construction yard of Chiomonte, Val Susa. The charges pressed against them are heavy: attack with purposes of terrorism carried out with lethal and explosive devices, possession of war weapons, damages.
UPDATE: On December 17, 2014, after a two-hour closed session, the Special Court of Assize of Turin sentenced Chiara Zenobi, Claudio Alberto, Mattia Zanotti and Niccolò Blasi to 3 years and 6 months each. The four comrades, imprisoned since December 9th, 2013, were found guilty of having sabotaged the TAV construction site in Chiomonte but were all acquitted of terrorism-related charges, for which the prosecutor had asked for a total sentence of nine years and a half. This means that they have since been released from prison to serve a period of house arrests.[Updated: 27/12/14]
A further 3 anarchists, Lucio Alberti, Francesco Sala and Graziano Mazzarelli, were arrested on July 11, 2014, in connection with the same action at the Chiomonte TAV site between May 13 & 14, 2013 that Chiara Zenobi, Claudio Alberto, Mattia Zanotti and Niccolò Blasi were arrested for.
Francesco Sala and Graziano Mazzarelli have both recently been transferred to the high security section of Ferrara prison. The transfer is a direct consequence of the charges of “attack with the purpose of terrorism” that the Turin prosecutors pressed against Lucio, Francesco and Graziano a week ago. [Updated: 27/12/14]
Lucio Alberti, C.C. Busto Arsizio, Via Cassano Magnago 102, ΙΤ-21052 Busto Arsizio (Varese), Italy. [Correct as of: 27/10/14]
Francesco Sala
Graziano Mazzarelli
C.C. Ferrara, Via dell’Arginone 327, ΙΤ-44122 Ferrara, Italy. [Correct as of: 27/12/14]
Davide Forgione and Paolo Rossi, two comrades who have been involved in the Val Susa struggle against the TAV for a number of years, were arrested on August 30 2013 after police stopped their car and found material considered suspicious.
Davide Forgione and Paolo Rossi were sentenced on March 14 to 2 years and 2 months and a fine of €5000. They had been arrested on August 30, 2013 after the police found Molotov cocktails, nails, plastic pipes and other ‘explosive’ material in their car. The prosecutor had alleged that they were palnning an attack on the TAV construction site at Chiomonte and had asked for 6 years sentences on both. [Updated: 29/03/14]
UPDATE: At appeal on November 12, their sentences were reduced to 1 year and 7 months and a €3000 fine, and they were immediately released by the court. [19/11/14]
notavtn.blogspot
http://en.contrainfo.espiv.net/tag/no-tav/
Carmelo Musumeci, C.C. Padova, Via Due Palazzi 25/A, 35136 ΙΤ-Padova, Italy. [Correct as of: 30/12/13]
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: www.informacarcere.it/ campagna_ergastolo.php?language=uk
www.carmelomusumeci.com/
NB: Non-english speaker.
Carlo Seppia, C.C. di Pisa ‘Don Bosco’, Via Don Bosco 43, ΙΤ-56100 Pisa, Italy. [Correct as of: 27/10/14]
Carlo was sentenced on October 4, 2012, to 5 years for taking part in the riots in Piazza San Giovanni in Rome October 15, 2011.
Michele Fabiani, C.C. Ferrara, Via dell’Arginone 327, ΙΤ-44122 Ferrara, Italy. [Correct as of: 27/10/14]
Anarchist comrade jailed on July 14, 2014, to serve a residual sentence related to an anti terrorism police operation, so called ‘Operation Brushwood’ (2007). [link]
Gianluca Iacovacci, C.C. di Alessandria, Via Casale 50/A, 15122 San Michele (AL), Italy. [Correct as of: 27/10/14]
Adriano Antonacci, C.C. Ferrara, Via dell’Arginone 327, ΙΤ-44122 Ferrara, Italy. [Correct as of: 27/10/14]
Gianluca Iacovacci and Adriano Antonacci were arrested on September 18, 2013 following a ROS [carabinieri special unit] operation that also involved raids on comrades’ homes. The two comrades are accused of several actions of attack on banks, fur coats shops, and ENI and ENEL [energy companies] premises, actions that had been claimed by Animal Liberation Front, Direct Action for the Defence of the Earth and FAI/FRI. They were charged with article 270bis: association with purposes of terrorism and subversion of the democratic order of the state. [Updated: 27/03/14]
Gianluca Iacovacci and Adriano Antonacci were sentenced on July 18, 2014,to 6 years and 3 years and 8 months respectively by judge Simonetta D’Alessandro, following a string of actions of sabotage and attack against ENI, ENEL and banks carried out in the Castelli Romani area between 2010 and 2013 . The charge of association with purposes of international terrorism was confirmed. Gianluca individually claimed some of the attacks signed by FAI and refused a defence lawyer. Both comrades refused to attend trial held via video-link. [Updated: 21/07/14]
Daniele Casalini, C.C. di Pisa ‘Don Bosco’, Via Don Bosco 43, ΙΤ-56100 Pisa, Italy. [Correct as of: 27/10/14]
Francesco Gioa, C.C. di Livorno ‘Le Sughere’, Via delle Macchie 9, ΙΤ-57100 Livorno, Italy. [Correct as of: 27/10/14]
On Wednesday, May 28 and Friday, May 30 Francesco and Daniele were arrested to serve the remainder of their sentence (2 years and 1 month, and 1 year and 9 months, respectively) in relation to the robbery that took place in Lucca in June 2007.
On May 20, 2014, a hearing was in fact held at the Supreme Court for the case of Daniele and Francesco; the court of cassation upheld the prison sentences which were imposed by the Court of Appeal. [Updated: 04/06/14]
Andrea Ventrella, C.C. di Bologna ‘Dozza’,Via del Gomito 2, ΙΤ-40127 Bologna, Italy. [Correct as of: 27/10/14]
Michele Garau, C.C. di Piacenza, Strada delle Novate 65, ΙΤ-29122 Piacenza, Italy. [Correct as of: 27/10/14]
Fabio Milan, C.C. di Vercelli, Via del Rollone 19, ΙΤ-13100 Vercelli, Italy. [Correct as of: 27/10/14]
Paolo Milan, C.C. di Brissogne e Aosta, Località Les Iles 14, ΙΤ-11020 Brissogne (Aosta), Italy. [Correct as of: 27/10/14]
In the early hours of June 3, 2014, a massive police operation unleashed in Turin and surrounding areas led to the arrest of 8 comrades, raids on squats and on several homes and a great number of people put under investigation. The charges refer to the struggle the comrades have been carrying out against the enforcement of eviction orders in Turin in recent years, thus challenigng the authorities of the city.
After over four months in prison, some of the arrested comrades were put under house arrest, whereas four of them – Andrea Ventrella, Michele Garau, Fabio Milan & Paolo Milan – were denied release from prison. [Updated: 05/11/14]
POLAND
Andrzej Mazurek syn Kazimierza, Oddział Zewnetrzny w Chmielowie, 39-442 Chmielow, Poland. [Updated: 03/03/14]
Defended by an Official Solicitor with a translator that told him to pretend to testify as the translator knew what to say, he was convicted of charges in a trail he did not understand a word of. He was incarcerated in Larissa prison and fellow prisoners only began to spread the details of his case widely for the first time in December 2011. Which is how Andrzej became known as ‘the forgotten prisoner of the December 2008 rebellion’.
After an appeal hearing on June 11, 2012, his prison term was reduced to 8.5 years. Since he had already completed 2/5 of his sentence, and was extradited to Poland from his Greek prison cell, where he is currently serving remaining time on a separate sentence for non-political offences. [03/03/14]
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.
Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Kolchenko, Lefortovskiy val, 5, p/b 201, 111020 Moscow, Russia. [NB: only letters in Russian are accepted, so you can send postcards or use google translate in case you do not speak Russian][correct as of: 29/07/14]
Aleksandr Kolchenko was detained in Crimea on May 17, 2014, on suspicion of participation in a “terrorist group,” which planned explosions near the eternal fire memorial and the Lenin monument in Simferopol on May 8th and 9th, and of having sabotaged railway tracks and electricity lines. Kolchenko is also suspected of having carried out two arson attacks: against the headquarters of the Russian Unity-party and Russian Community of Crimea on April 14th, and the office of the United Russia party in Simferopol on April 18th. He has since been transferred to Moscow and is being kept in the Lefortovo remand prison. The case is run by the FSB, the former KGB.
Aleksandr is an anarchist and antifascist who has participated in student and environmental actions. He has been part of campaigns against tuition fees and supported workers’ rights protests. He was under constant Nazi attack for his antifascist ideas. One incident took place after a film screening about murdered anti-fascist journalist Anastasiya Baburova, where he was attacked by thirty Nazis using knives. In this context, claims by the Russian authorities that Aleksandr is part of the nationalist “Right Sector” are ridiculous, and he is denying these claims.
As lawyers of the accused are subject to a gag order, we have limited information on the charges and the level of cooperation from the suspect. We know that Aleksandr has admitted to being present at the location of the arsons, but he denies terrorist charges, which carry a 20-year maximum prison sentence. There is no reason to believe that he has implicated anyone else.
Aleksandr Kolchenko is claimed to be part of a bigger group protesting against the Russian invasion of Crimea by organising direct actions. A famous film director, Oleg Sentsov, as well as two Maydan activists, Gennadiy Afanasyev and Alexei Chirniy, have also been detained under the same suspicion. All of them are claimed to be part of the Right Sector (a Ukrainian ultra-right organisation). This is a lie as apart from Chirniy none of the accused have any connection to the Right sector, and Aleksandr Kolchenko has never shared nationalist ideas. The whole case is considered to be part of the Russian campaign to take over Crimea, which includes repressions against anyone who doesn’t comply with the new authority.
Oleg Sentsov’s arrest has gained worldwide attention, as recently, a number of known directors, including Pedro Almodovar, Mike Leigh, Agnieszka Holland, Stephen Daldry, Bela Tarr and Wim Wenders signed a petition demanding his release.
Since this case is highly political, Aleksandr’s legal costs are high, around 850 euro per month. We expect the investigation to last long enough as to put a heavy financial strain on local ABC groups. So we call for support with finances and information distribution. You can make donations via PayPal to abc-msk@riseup.net or using a bank account (write to the same e-mail address for details).
An international week of actions for the arrested will take place from July 15 to July 22. [Updated: 27/06/14]
Read Aleksandr’s latest statement: Aleksandr Kolchenko: I am not a terrorist. I am a citizen of Ukraine [20/11/14]
Igor Olegovich Kharchenko
Igor was arrested in September 2011. He is accused of having participated in a fight on the July 4, 2010, during which the audience of a punk hardcore concert dispersed a band of nationalists, who had come in order to kill and maim concert guests. Igor, however, did not take part in the fight – plenty of those present at the concert have given testimony, that during the fight Igor was performing in the concert.
Igor has since been transferred to a prison camp, but he does not want to receive support letters from people he does not know. [Updated: 30/02/14]
Alexey ‘Sokrat’ Sutuga is a member of Autonomous Action and has been active in the anarchist movement in the past ten years, including the ecological protest camp against uranium enrichment in city of Angarsk in Siberia, which was assaulted by nationalists in the early morning hours. Ilya Borodaenko from Nahodka of Pacific Ocean was murdered there, and a number of other visitors of the camp were seriously wounded. He was arrested in April 2012 and remaned in prison accused along with Alexey Olesinov and Alyon Volikov of having taken part in an incident in the Moscow club “Vozdukh”, where on December 17, 2011, during a punk-hardcore concert, a conflict between the audience and the security took place. The club security, consisted of supporters of the far right, and were provoking guests. Due to the conflict, the concert was stopped prematurely, but the security attempted to take some guests hostage, threatening them with punishment from their friends – nationalist football hooligans. Concert guests resisted, the security opened fire with rubber coated metal bullets, but soon the concert-goers gained the upper hand and the security was neutralised and sent to the hospital. The case against them was eventually dropped in January 2014 on the eve of the Sochi Winter Olympics as part of the amnesty bill, approved as a PR stunt on initiative of Vladimir Putin.
However Alexey is now back in prison, having been arrested on April 5, 2014, for a fight with ultra rightist and placed under investigation. At the trial on September 30, 2014, hewas sentenced by Zamoskvoretskiy Court in Moscow to three years and one month in prison for his alleged involvement in a fight. A day earlier, the prosecutor had asked for it four years and two months in prison. [Updated: 02/10/14]
Alexey Vladimirovich Sutua, currently in transit to a prison in Irkutsk in Siberia.[correct as of: 15/02/15]
6th of May Defendants
19 people are currently under arrest for alleged involvement in rioting in Bolotnaya square on May 6th 2012, the eve of Putin’s inauguration. Stepan Zimin and Alexey Polikhovich have both been given prison time [1][2]and Alexendra Dukhanina was given a period of probation.
http://6may.org/en/
Stepan Yurevich Zimin – Currently being transferred to the penal colony [correct as of: 24/02/15]
Alexey Alexeevich Polikhovich – Currently being transferred to the penal colony [correct as of: 24/02/15]
Russian anti-fascist Alexey Gaskarov is currently being held in prison awaiting trial on charges of resisting police on May 6 2012 during the so-called ‘riot’ on Bolotnaya Square on May 6, 2012.
Alexey Vladimirovich Gaskarov, FKU SIZO-2 UFSIN Rossii po g. Moskve, ul. Novoslodskaya d. 45 127055 Moscow, Russia. [correct as of: 29/07/14]
Ilya Eduardovich Romanov, 1967 g.r., FKU SIZO-1, ul. Gagarina, d.26-a, 603098, Nizhnii Novrogod, Russia (letters only in Russian and do not contain statements about the political activities of anarchists) [correct as of: 29/07/14]
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
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, 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 5 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 2 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 [21/04/14]: Both compañeros remain in preventive detention and have passed through a number of different prisons [current addresses below]. They remain in FIES 3, with eight 5-minute calls per week, restriction of correspondence (only 2 letters per week) and we know they still have no limit on how many letters they can receive, one weekly visit of 40 minutes and are both dispersed in prisons distant from their friends and compañeras, the so-called ‘dispersion’ as the way of punishing political prisoners or rebels, seeking to exhaust the strength of those who go visit them.
Mónica Andrea Caballero Sepúlveda, Ávila-Prisión Provincial, Ctra. de Vicolozano s/nvApdo. 206, 05194 Brieva (Ávila), Spain. [Correct as of: 29/07/14]
Francisco Javier Solar Domínguez, Centro Penitenciario de Villabonav, Finca Tabladiello, 33480 Villabona-Llanera (Asturias), Spain. [Correct as of: 29/07/14]
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. Teixeiro (módulo 11), Carretera Paradela s/n, 15310 Teixeiro-Curtis (A Coruña), Spain. [Correct as of: 27/10/14]
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.
Gabriel Pombo da Silva
Centro Penitenciario de Topas – Salamanca, Ctra. N-630, km. 314 37799 Topas (Salamanca), Spain. [Correct as of: 18/08/14]
Gabriel has been moved to Alicante and continues to be held under FIES-5, denied visits and his mail restricted. If you want to write to Gabriel, even if he can’t reply, it is best to do it by registered mail so that letters don’t get lost and are put on record. He is unable to receive texts, pamphlets, books, etc.). [Updated: 06/06/14]
[See also the German Aachen 4 section above.]
SWEDEN
Joel Almgren, Skogholmsvägen, 522 85 Tidaholm, Sweden. [Correct as of: 10/11/14]
Joel is a Swedish anti-fascist currently on remand for defending an anti-racist demonstration in Kärrtorp, near Stockholm, from a vicious attack by the neo-Nazi group Swedish National Resistance. During the fight, a number of the attackers were seriously injured and Joel is facing possible charges associated with these injuries.
Update: Joel was sentenced to 5.5 years on appeal and has been transferred to a new prison. [Updated: 10/08/14]
SWITZERLAND
Marco Camenisch, Strafanstalt Bostadel, Postfach 38, CH-6313 Menzingen, Switzerland. [Updated: 26/05/14]
Marco is a Swiss anarchist and environmental activist who has been in prison since 1991. 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 campaign against the nuclear industry.
Sadly, Marco has been denied parole for the second time this year:
“This time the denial came from the TAR (administrative review court). To tell the truth, I’m sick and tired of dealing with the usual long-winded repressive crap, in which also the TAR simply ‘approves’ everything that has already been expressed by their worthy cronies, only adding even more meanness and maliciousness. I was surely expecting a confirmation of the denial but, to tell the truth, at least a hint of seriousness in the treatment of the ‘defence arguments’. In practice an a posteriori internment, by the end of the prison sentence, is most likely what lies ahead of me. That’s the only point worth noting…” [11/12/13]
Marco continues to protest against the Swiss state’s refusal to release him on parole and is currently refusing to provide urine samples for drugs testing. As a possible consequence of this and other acts of non-cooperation with the prison regime, he has been moved to another prison. [26/05/14]