"Letters of Freedom" to Political Prisoners in Russia. Tuesday, February 18, 7 pm. Chanin Language Center (room B126, Hunter West). Free and open to the public (with a state-issued ID). RSVP required.
Join us for an event dedicated to writing letters to political prisoners in Russia, including Russian, Ukrainian and other nationals! Organized in memory of Alexei Navalny, a symbol of political opposition to Putin's regime, who was murdered in prison a year ago, on February 16, 2023, it will feature portraits of seriously ill political prisoners whose lives are now in danger. With more than 200 cards of political prisoners, you will be able to choose your addressee(s) - and, logistics permitting, receive an answer from them in the following months. All personal cards and other materials are derived from the Memorial Society and OVD Info databases. No knowledge of Russian is required: our volunteers will help with translating your letters into Russian and delivering them to political prisoners. We want to let those behind bars know that they are not forgotten! Your letters will be a breath of free air, a lifeline connecting prisoners under harsh and often inhumane circumstances to the outside world..
- Everyone is welcome
- All materials will be provided
- Donations for postage are welcome but not required
- Letters can be written in paper or electronic form. If you want to write a letter online, please bring your phone, tablet or laptop!
Our special guest will be Ivan Lopukhin, a graduate of Moscow State University with a degree in Sociology, who worked for over 10 years in district election commissions in Moscow and volunteered as an observer. Since 2013, Ivan has actively participated in anti-corruption and socio-political projects of Alexei Navalny and the Anti-Corruption Foundation. After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ivan, together with his family, was forced to leave Russia and moved to New York. In April 2023, he, along with like-minded activists, founded the community of supporters of Alexei Navalny, #FreeNavalny_NY. The group organizes public rallies calling for the release of political prisoners and against the war. They also organize events to write letters to political prisoners called "Letters of Freedom." After Navalny's assassination, the group changed its name to TeamNavalny_NY and was successful in installing a memorial plaque in honor of Alexei Navalny in Central Park. They also gathered support and collected signatures to rename 91st Street near the Russian Consulate in his honor.
Address & directions
Hunter College is located at East 68th Street and Lexington Avenue (6 train). At the reception desk of the Hunter West Building, please present your ID to get a pass. From there, take the escalator one floor down, turn around, and look for room B126 - Chanin Language Center on your right.