(en) Letter of anarchist Alexey Sutuga from prison to comrades in struggle

It is late, but I still want to congratulate all the comrades and friends with May Day and 
the Day of Liberation of the world from the Nazi threat in the memorable days of 1945. The 
symbolism of the holidays for me is still an important part of those ideas that I live 
for, although already the second year in a row I am unable to take part in their 
celebrations. But even in prison, they are life-affirming, as most of the people who 
surround me here could stand with me in the same column in freedom, shoulder to shoulder. 
---- If we do not take into account the corrupted officials, prison is packed with 
representatives of the working class, who consist a broad international. This is nothing 
surprising, as the situation was the same at all times.

And, of course, in prison there is a higher portion
of discontents than in any other part of our society, but also many of
those who do not intend to attempt to change anything in it because of
the same lack of organization and lack of consciousness as in the rest
of the society (I am not talking about the criminal world, which has
its own discipline and a clear hierarchy). And while people here are
always willing to discuss the revolutionary ideas (as time for it is
enough), it is very difficult to bring everyone to a common
denominator. I think this is due to huge amount of problems, which must
be solved together with everyone, and throughout the society, as well
as a lack of knowledge about structure of the society and its function.

But I am glad that ideas of libertarian communism are met here with
only positive response, in contrast to the current unfinished
democracy. We should pay more attention to the expansion of our
movement not only due to young people from the subculture, which
should have become a counter-culture a long time ago, but also to
agitate among migrant workers, who have long since become part of the
Russian society, but have not yet become part of the anarchist
movement. Their protest takes a form of the poison of the dangerous
totalitarian ideas of the Islamic fundamentalism, which is increasingly
infecting their community. Such a struggle with the authorities is no
way to a freedom for all of us. Religion in conjunction with the state
is only able to prohibit and imprison. We also need positive
initiatives attempts, aimed at socialization of the people who need
protection from government institutions and xenophobia, in a
libertarian spirit. There are many concrete practices for this - from
education projects and cultural integration to learning self-defense
against the Nazi street gangs.

Hence, from behind the walls of the Butyrka prison, during the year I
have spent here I see the state becoming more and more fascist, with it
increasing the corporate power, making life impossible for small and
medium businesses. Already a long time ago the state took over control
of large production and development of natural resources, crushed civic
organizations and opposition. Our state is administered by officers of
the security services and oligarchs loyal to them.

In the current situation, our position about the necessity of the
complete political independence of the anarchist movement and power of
its idea becomes more and more clear. Only independence will contribute
to our success, while the liberal opposition is unable to fight back
effectively, plain and clear. This is an obvious conclusion from the
current state of affairs. Of course, we should not abolish our work
inside opposition structures. But, as the arrest of our comrade Alexey
Gaskarov, even a member of Coordination Council of opposition may be
repressed by the security services and prosecutor?s committee,
especially if he is a political radical.

I wish you success and victory in the upcoming struggles! Less internal
ideological strife, let there be a united beautiful red-and-black
column of revolutionary anarchists in our streets!

Address of Alexey:
Alexey Sutuga
FKU SIZO-2 UFSIN Rossii po g. Moskve
ul. Novoslobodskaya d. 45 127055 Moskva Russia

List of prisoners in former Soviet Union:
http://wiki.avtonom.org/en/index.php/Category:Prisoners_in_former_Soviet_Union

15th of May 2013
Alexey "Sokrat"