For over a decade, Russian antifascists have commemorated January 19 as their day of solidarity. This is the date when, in 2009, in the centre of Moscow, the human rights and leftist activist Stanislav Markelov and the journalist and anarchist Anastasia Baburova were gunned down by neo-Nazis.
The murder of Markelov and Baburova became the culmination of the ultra-right terror of the 2000s, which killed hundreds of migrants and dozens of anti-fascists. For many years, while it was still possible, Russian activists held antifascist demonstrations and rallies on January 19 under the slogan “To remember is to fight!”
Today, when the Putin regime has invaded Ukraine and unleashed unprecedented repression against its own citizens who oppose the war, the date of January 19 takes on a new meaning. Back then the danger was posed by neo-Nazi groups, often acting with the connivance of the authorities.
Today, the ideology and practice of right-wing radicals have become the ideology and practice of the Russian regime itself, which is rapidly turning fascist over the course of its invasion of Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin is waging war not only against the Ukrainian people, but also against the Russian civil society resisting aggression. The brutal repressions hit, among other things, the left-wing movement: socialists, anarchists, feminists, labor unionists.
Before the New Year, the most famous left–wing politician in Russia, the democratic socialist Mikhail Lobanov, was arrested and beaten. The platform “Nomination” he created united the anti-war opposition in the municipal elections in Moscow in September 2022.
Kirill Ukraintsev, the leader of the Courier labor union and a well-known left-wing video blogger, has been in custody since April. The reason for the arrest were the protests and strikes the couriers organized as they sought to improve their working conditions.
A feminist, artist and anti-war activist Alexandra Skochilenko, who distributed anti-war symbols, faces a long prison term.
Six Anarchists – Kirill Brik, Deniz Aydin, Yuri Neznamov, Nikita Oleinik, Roman Paklin, Daniil Chertykov – were arrested in the so-called “Tyumen case.” They were brutally tortured, seeking confessions in the preparation of sabotage.
Daria Polyudova, an activist of the Left Resistance group, was recently sentenced to nine (!) years in prison for “calls to extremism.” Leftist journalist Igor Kuznetsov has been in prison for a year now, accused of “extremism” for his anti-war and anti-Putin views.
This is a far from exhaustive list of Russian leftists recently imprisoned or persecuted for their beliefs. As activists forced to leave Russia for political reasons, we ask our foreign comrades and all those who care to support the antifascist action on January 19 under the slogans:
No to Putin’s war, fascism and dictatorship!
Freedom to all Russian political prisoners!
Solidarity with Russian antifascists!
To remember is to fight!
We ask you to send us information about any solidarity actions during the week of January 19-24 – pickets, open meetings, online discussions, and even personal photos with posters – by e-mail at: rsdzoom@proton.me.
The Russian Socialist Movement
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For those of us who stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people I have to say this is a powerful statement and welcome one. It basically states the obvious, if we are to stand in solidarity with our Russian brothers and sisters we must make it clear that the immediate demand of the left internationally must be for Russia out of Ukraine immediately. The analysis contained in the article makes clear that Russia under Putin is well under way to fascism. Fortunately in the article by comrade Budraitskis there is no mention of the “proxy war” bogey man the has characterised some of those on the left looking over their shoulders in case they are seen to be on the side of NATO or US imperialism. This is a throughly bankrupt position. We do not need to support Zelensky or his regime, to raise the demand for Russian Troops Out Now – Self-Determination for the Ukrainian people. It has always been a standard anti- imperialist demand is solidarity with the oppressed or those fighting imperialist aggression, be it Moscow or Washington, London or Beijing.
Vincent, I agree with you 100%. I hope that individuals everywhere that see this call will take some kind of action that week. There is no action too small to stand in solidarity with this courageous and critical movement. Are you part of the European Network in Solidarity with Ukraine? Do you know about the Ukraine Socialist Solidarity Campaign based in the US? I am on of the co-chairs. You can find out about the USSC at our link tree https://linktr.ee/ukrainesocialistsolidaritycpgn. We have had many public online forums related to Ukraine and more. Tomorrow we are having a public forum featuring Svitlana Romanko, Ukrainian climate change activist on the topic of Fossil Fuel Dependency and Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine. More info and registration at https://bit.ly/3jJSMTz and https://bit.ly/3Z0PZpc.
Hello Cheryl, thanks for your comment. I’m based in Dublin where a group of veteran socialists have set up Irish Left With Ukraine details of which you can find on our webpage. I will pass on you greetings to the comrades at the next meeting of the group. Venceremos!
I support your efforts to end fascism and also support your demand for withdrawal of Russian troups from Ukrainian territory.
Just one question. Those almost 3 million people who from statistics have fled from Ukraine to Russia, why did they chose to go to Russia? Is there not alot of Russians or Russian speaking people living on the east side of Ukraine? Is there no internal war in Ukraine? Is it this that you mean, that the Russians have now left Ukraine so the protection of them is not necessary? NATO and US will continue helping the western Ukraine until Ukraine has become completely emptied of Russians. So that is what you suggest? The whole of the western society is full of nazis again. It is an international problem, not a Russian only.