On the night of May, 8 a powerful explosion ripped through the Russia's largest coal mine Raspadskaya near the city of Mezhdurechensk, Kemerovo region, followed by another methane blast 4 hours later. Several ground-based structures were destroyed by the double blast which also led to the ventilation system being rendered inoperative. The exact death toll is still unknown. Currently, official media reported 66 workers dead, 84 injured and 24 missing. A sudden excess of level of methane is said to have caused the explosion.

New full-length CD by Canadian metal / punk band ISKRA www.myspace.com/diskra - you can listen to songs from the album online) has been released on March 17.

The CD is called "Bureval" and includes a full-colour digipack with 28-page booklet. About half of the ten songs on the album deal with

On January 19, we opened a street-art exhibition on the outer wall of the State Museum of Political History (the former Kschenssinska mansion) in Saint Petersburg. The exhibition is dedicated to the memory of our friends the civil rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov and the journalist Anastasia Baburova.

In Izhevsk, officers of Centre of Counteraction Against Extremism (CPE, new Russian political police, formed in January of 2009) are falsifying a case against members of Autonomous Action. According to Galina Shutova, who is yet a witness in the case, state wants to make her a terrorist: “Officer of CPE Artyom Ahmetzyanov said to me directly, that he wants to do anything to lock me down”.

We, the members of the Autonomous Action movement, have begun a public campaign in defense of all people in Russia who have suffered from the abuse and lawlessness of so-called Center “E” (the Russian Federation Interior Ministry’s Center for Extremism Prevention) and other law enforcement agencies. We encourage everyone to show that they care about what is happening. If you agree with the goals stated in this manifesto, join us in our public protest campaign!

What Is Center “E”? What Is the Law on “Extremism”? Why Are We Opposed?

On January 13, 2009 a riot broke out in Riga (Latvia).

The authorities of the country had lost all trust of the population, industry and agriculture had been completely destroyed, and IMF credits wasted and the people could not pay even for their very modest flats. Mass unemployment and misery was the immediate threat for many thousands. Under these circumstances after a meeting organized by opposition parties some of the people tired of the lies told by politicians and powerlessness of the opposition took to radical action. They threw

During year 2008 and first half of the year 2009 we (together with other anarchist, anti-fascists and Social initiatives) have been involved with following projects:

1. We have been updating news section in website of ABC Moscow (http://avtonom.org/abc) with translations of news on repressions and political prisoners from Russian language to other languages and vice versa, we also maintained English language section of the website.

25th of May in the morning, police evicted squat "Pila" in Ligovsky prospect in St. Petersburg, which had existed for half a year. While police was breaking in, people managed to escape from windows with some valuables, and no-one was arrested. However many valuables were also stolen or destroyed by the cops, for example musical instruments of the squatters. 8 people were living in "Pila" and many activities were organised there. As most Russian squats, "Pila" was clandestine and its existence was not openly announced.

In Izhevsk, Department of Counteraction Against Extremism (CPE, formerly
Administration on Fight with Organised Crime UBOP) once againt framed up
a criminal case against anti-fascist movement.

This is just the latest episode in a chain of repressions against
anti-fascists, which started i 2008 - during a year more than 80 people
have been illegally detained for various reasons, five criminal cases
have been opened, but in four charges cases were closed as "crime had
not taken place".

While investigating these cases, officers of UBOP were using a variety

Russian contemporary artist Artem Loskoutov is being illegally pursued and forcibly held by militia in Novosibirsk. He is confined since Friday, 15 of May. Artem is well known in Novosibirsk as one of the leaders of underground art-scene. Since 2004, he has developed a number of performances, known to international artistic community. Currently he is accused in illegal drugs possession and in criminal political extremism.

Statement of Anti-fascist Information Group of St. Petersburg

8th of May 2009 Kuybyshevskiy district court sentenced Aleksey Bychin to 5 years in prison, according to statue 111 part 3 of the Russian criminal codex (conscious causing of grievous bodily harm to two or more persons).

Moscow anti-fascist is on trial for his anti-fascist believes!
International solidarity is needed!

Next Tuesday, the 21th of April 2009, a verdict will be announced in the case of Moscow anti-fascist Alexei Olesinov.

By Diet Simon

Germany's supreme court has handed down a ruling that nuclear opponents welcome as strengthening their rights.

The group that has resisted nuclear waste dumping at the north German village of Gorleben for 31 years says the ruling, confirming the right of residents along the waste transport routes to litigate against the transports, is a clear reprimand of lower courts.

The Lüchow-Dannenberg Civic Initiative for the Environment (BI) sees the ruling "strengthening the cause of the nuclear opponents".

2nd issue of Black Cross, newspaper of Anarchist Black Cross - St.Petersburg (Russia) is out in November 2008. It contains the following materials: a chronicle of anti-cop campaign in Russia (Spring 2008), news on repressions against anarchists, antiauthoritarians and radical environmentalists in France, Greece, Germany, Japan and USA. In the “history of resistance” section we print an article about a hunger strike of anarchist political prisoners in Soviet Russia in 1922. There is also letters section and a list of addresses of imprisoned activists all over the world.

18th of November an action against repression of anti-fascistswill take place at Metro Station "Novokucnetskaya" in Moscow. Action will begin 16:00, and will demand freedom for anti-fascist prisoner Aleksey Olesinov. Aleksey is imprisoned for more than 10 days already, and has been held incommunicado by authorities, his lawyer Stanislav Markelov has still not been allowed to meet with him. Health condition and
conditions in which he is kept are not known to his relatives and friends. Friends of Olesinov are certain, that he is persecuted due to participation to anti-fascist activities.