New fundraiser collects donations for warm clothing for political prisoners in Russia's Far North
The "You Are Not Alone" campaign supporting Russian political prisoners has launched a fundraiser to buy warm clothing for inmates held in the country's harsh northern penal colonies and detention centers. The initiative is co-organized by Meduza.
Prisoners in Russia's penal system are issued uniforms that are often poorly made and ill-fitting, and the system provides no thermal underwear at all. Conditions are especially harsh in facilities located in Russia's Far North, where many political prisoners are unable to receive warm clothing from relatives.
To address this, the "You Are Not Alone" campaign, which supports political prisoners, has launched a new fundraiser dedicated to purchasing warm clothing. The effort is organized by several groups, including the news outlet Meduza.
What donations will fund
For prisoners held in penal colonies, money raised will go toward mittens, gloves, socks, thermal underwear, warm insoles, tights for women, and, where colony administrations allow it, shawls and headscarves for women.
For those held in pretrial detention centers — who are not forced to work outdoors but whose facilities can still be extremely cold — the list differs slightly: laceless warm shoes, socks, tights for women, thermal underwear, drawstring-free sweaters and pants, hats, jackets and down coats, mittens, gloves, and warm insoles.
Cost of items
Organizers note that a €3 donation can cover a pair of warm insoles, €10 can buy mittens or gloves, and €50 can pay for a pair of warm shoes.
While this fundraiser has a specific goal, organizers are encouraging donors to sign up for recurring contributions, which would allow the campaign to keep supporting political prisoners on an ongoing basis.
The campaign does not accept donations from ruble-denominated cards and asks people traveling to Russia not to contribute.
