At the book festival Foundation: Stories About Culture held at the Ukrainian House, a stand was dedicated to supporting the Letters to Free Crimea initiative. Visitors had the opportunity to express their support for political prisoners, convey gratitude for their commitment to Ukraine despite life-threatening risks, and share messages about the everyday life that awaits them upon their return.

According to the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, as of November 19, Russia has unlawfully detained 218 Crimean political prisoners, 132 of whom are Crimean Tatars. Many of these prisoners suffer from serious health conditions and are denied adequate medical care, in addition to being subjected to deliberate torture.

One of the contributors to the initiative was recently released human rights defender, journalist, and co-founder of the ZMINA Human Rights Center, Maksym Butkevych. He emphasized that every letter carries a human rights impact, serving as a signal not only to the recipient but also to prison administrations. The letters make it clear that the political prisoner is under public scrutiny, thereby reducing the risk of human rights violations.

The initiative was also joined by Ukrainian film director and writer Iryna Tsilyk, festival curators Bohdana Neborak and Anastasiia Yevdokymova, representatives of publishing houses, and over a hundred other concerned Ukrainians and foreigners.

We are pleased to report that during the festival, visitors wrote 138 letters to the Kremlin’s prisoners. Additionally, we remind you that the Letters to Free Crimea initiative has been extended until the end of 2024.

Details and recommendations on writing and sending a letter can be found via the link in the header of the organizers’ pages, including the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, PEN Ukraine, the ZMINA Human Rights Center, and the Ministry for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine.