Recently, in places not so remote for various reasons, or rather, articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, it turned out (or, apparently, they are about to find themselves – they are still in the status of defendants, but already in a pre-trial detention center) a lot of famous people. And there they do not lose heart, but perform, in addition to their various duties, some kind of social burden. On their own initiative! They are also trying to benefit from there those who also ended up in the dungeons. And many do it well, and everyone has found a path to their liking.

On August 12, he was given three days for an unbuttoned button, then 5 days for not having his hands behind his back during escort, then 7 days for not introducing himself according to the charter, after a maximum of 15 days – the exact reasons were not specified to the convicts, then 12 days – for his statement during the trial (he also manages to sue his colony there). And on October 11, he was sentenced to 14 days for refusing, as the prisoner claims, to wash the fence.

During one of his stays in the punishment cell, Alexei Anatolyevich came up with a brilliant idea – to create a trade union of prisoners, which he is already slowly implementing. True, so far he is the only one in it, and the leadership of the state institution considers the organization illegal. But there are also early successes.

So, Navalny managed to get an answer to his appeal to the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation about how many kilograms of things and products relatives can bring with them for a long meeting with a prisoner – 20 kg for all or 20 kg for each. Since the “Internal Regulations” have recently come into force. And there this clause is spelled out in such a way that, according to the oppositionist, the administrations of the colonies throughout the country began to interpret it as “for everyone.” And here is the answer of the Ministry of Justice – “for everyone.” And this is actually an important point.

The “standard” set of visitors to a convict looks like this: mother, wife, child,” Alexei Navalny explains in a letter sent through associates. Or grandmother, mother, brother. These people must bring food and drink, clothing and hygiene items for three days. You will almost always bring your own bed linen and towels. Plus “free clothes” for prisoners. And imagine, if the child is small, then a stroller is also needed. So it turns out in the end that if the total limit is 20 kg, then three adults and a child simply do not have enough food for three days. Well, or you have to take crackers and “homeless packages.”

The inmate also ensured that the seamstresses from his shop were provided with chairs instead of stools to sit during the working day. And he prepared detailed instructions on how to achieve the same for others in his zone.

“This is a common practice: if a highly educated person goes to jail, he usually writes complaints for the whole cell,” well-known human rights activist Marina Litvinovich explains to the Interlocutor. – After all, the prisoners have their own very powerful foundations. And, in particular, it is not customary to complain there, especially to the authorities and to the authorities. There may be consequences for this.

Yes, and with the protection of the rights of prisoners, everything is very sad now: throughout Russia, practically no real human rights activists have been re-elected to the Public Monitoring Commissions. So the prisoner union is a great initiative. Prisoners must now defend their rights themselves.

Of course, the leadership is not happy with Navalny’s idea, since he, one might say, undermines the official prison regime. But the prison subculture, more likely, if necessary, will get along with his trade union, like with any other.

For some reason, we perceive prisoners as absolutely disenfranchised people. They think they have no right to anything. The situation needs to be changed – and Navalny found himself in this, took these circumstances upon himself and did not lose his head. Prisoners do not have to officially join his union in order for it to work. The main thing is that Alexei Anatolyevich actually told them: “I am a trade union here! Come to me and complain to me! It’s not right for you to complain to Navalny. I will protect you.” That is, he declared himself a certain authority within the colony – he acts very cleverly.

Official authorities, of course, are indignant. I would like to mention a few more people. Andrey Pivovarov (the politician was convicted in July 2022 under Article 284 for four years – Ed.) initiated a laboratory test of the water that flows there in a general regime colony, and found out that it is unsuitable for drinking or washing.

Alexandra Bayazitova (the journalist is charged under Article 163 – Ed.), who is in a pre-trial detention center, wrote to his head with a proposal to change the information policy of the institution – namely, with the idea of ​​starting a telegram channel for the pre-trial detention center. It would be useful to relatives, friends and lawyers under investigation and trial.

And Ivan Safronov (the journalist received in September 2022 for two episodes under Article 275 in total 22 years in a strict regime colony – Ed.) Sets an example for all of us with his fortitude.

“Vladimir Vladimirovich is seeking the right of those in jail to vote in any election,” his lawyer Vadim Prokhorov shared with Interlocutor. On September 9 this year, he himself tried to vote in the municipal elections. For the Yabloko party, of course, although this is beside the point. The ballot box was delivered to the institution.

And then the election commission found fault with the fact that my principal was not there at the place of registration! But after all, they are placed in such places, as a rule, not by registration, it can only sometimes coincide. Kara-Murza is in the Moscow pre-trial detention center No. 5 “Vodnik”, which is located in the Northern District, and is registered at the place of residence in the Central District (Zamoskvoretsky District).

When they refused to give him a ballot, he turned to the Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow. In his lawsuit, he referred to paragraph 1 of Art. 66 of the Law on Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights, which states that the precinct commission “provides the opportunity to vote for voters, referendum participants who are included in the list of voters, referendum participants, but in respect of which, in accordance with the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation, a measure of restraint has been chosen excluding the possibility of visiting the polling station.

The representative of the precinct commission, in turn, argued that “the area of ​​activity of the precinct commission is determined by the boundaries of the polling station and arbitrary expansion of the territory of activity of the PEC is unacceptable.” A similar position has already been expressed by the Moscow City Election Commission and the TEC. The court agreed with her.

Thus, Judge Khairetdinova canceled the direct norm of the Constitution, which secures the right to vote for citizens who are not in places of deprivation of liberty by a court verdict. We lost the appeal in the Moscow City Court last week. But my ward does not give up and promises to appeal this decision to the upper limit.

We believe that the thoroughly pro-Putin Constitutional Court of Russia will take our position, since active suffrage is a sacred cow for them. Even, God forgive me, Ella Pamfilovacommenting on the Kara-Murza case, confessedthat there is a problem and that it needs to be addressed.

* Included in the list of terrorists and extremists

** Recognized as a foreign agent in the Russian Federation