On the morning of February 26, 2023, a Russian DRLV A-50 long-range reconnaissance aircraft exploded in two places at the Machulishchi airfield. It was used to guide Russian missiles to targets in Ukraine. It was reported that the aircraft was currently undergoing repairs at the 325th Aircraft Repair Plant, part of the Beriev Taganrog Aviation Scientific and Technical Complex in Russia.
The main defendant in the case and, as official bodies and propagandists claimed , the perpetrator of the sabotage, Nikolai Shvets, was released in June in a prisoner exchange with Ukraine.
Nikolai Shvets, Alexander Azarov, Alla Yatsuta, Vitaly Yakutik, Evgenia Tochitskaya , Mikhail Demin and Sergei Loparov were tried in absentia.
A trial in absentia for the criminal case against Andrei Balmakov, Evgeniya Tochitskaya, Ekaterina Ostrova, and Antonina Naydovich was scheduled for April 22, 2026. All were charged under Part 2 of Article 361-4 (assistance to extremist activity), and Antonina was additionally charged under Article 369 (insulting a government official) of the Criminal Code.
Trial outcome 03.10.2024
15 years of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions, 1000 basic values fine (trial in absentia).
Appeal 27.12.2024
unknown (trial in absentia).
Trial outcome 08.05.2026
unknown years of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions, 600 basic values fine.
Final verdict by partial addition:
17 years of imprisonment in colony under general regime conditions, 1600 basic values fine.
How to write a letter
✏️ A postcard with words of encouragement (a poem by your favorite author, song lyrics, or a beautiful quote). Trust us, even such simple gestures are very meaningful to a person in jail.
✏️ Your life events. To a person who is in isolation for a long time, any story about your routine endeavors will be a window into normal life. Your day-to-day worries and mundane matters are much more interesting than the daily grind of life behind bars.
✏️ It is important to share news. Mention the most notable and interesting occurrences depending on your pen-pal's interests.
✍️️ Remember that every letter is censored. This means that your letters are read by strangers whose main goal is to limit inmates' access to information or to use it against the prisoners or even you.
So try to avoid:
👉️️ harsh statements regarding ongoing political matters
👉 statements against the authorities and public servants
👉 foul language
👉 discussion of the circumstances of the criminal case
To ensure that none of political prisoners are left without attention and support the site has a function of verified sendings.
Please attach a photo or a screenshot for transfer verification. The new transfer will be posted on the site as soon as it is verified by the moderator!
Support actions
You can upload an image from the support event, and after passing moderation we will publish it.
Respond to help those released
Do you want to help a released political prisoner? Send your contact to Telegram and we will contact you.
A Keeper means you want to regularly help a specific person in prison through their family. Choose a political prisoner and click «Become a Keeper», our team will contact you shortly.
You can request the letters that we have in storage, for this, leave your telegram account for feedback, we will contact you and, after verifying your identity, we will transfer the archive with your letters.
Are you a relative or someone close to a political prisoner? Send us a short description and your Telegram contact for feedback. After data verification we will publish your relative on the website.
Do you have information about administrative prosecution? Please send us a short description and your Telegram contact for feedback. After checking the data, we will publish your information on the site.
Please leave your contact on Telegram and describe your skills in as much detail as possible. After moderation, your CV will be published on the website.
Multi upload allows you to send confirmations with one photo to several political prisoners at once, check the selected people before sending!
Please attach a photo or a screenshot for transfer verification. The new transfer will be posted on the site as soon as it is verified by the moderator!
Write to representatives
Correct translation
Application for assistance in employment or retraining
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