Mothers of Russian political prisoners: life without days off

In Russia, at least 1,500 people are imprisoned for their civic stance. The "You Are Not Alone" project has supported over 800 political prisoners and their loved ones over two years. Mothers whose children are behind bars spoke anonymously about how their lives are organized.

In Russia, at least 1,500 people are imprisoned for their civic stance, and the state punishes not only them but also their relatives. Without external support, survival in a Russian prison is nearly impossible, and this support demands all of a family's strength and resources.

Mother as a full-time job

The "You Are Not Alone" project has supported over 800 political prisoners and their loved ones over two years. Project staff heard anonymously from mothers whose adult children have ended up behind bars, describing lives with no days off and no breathing room. Parcels, petitions, lawyers, court hearings, letters-all of it falls on the family's shoulders.

One of these mothers said plainly: "If I had been 17 in 2024 in Russia, I might have ended up in prison too." This sentence reveals more than a personal story; it is testimony to how the state criminalizes young people's political activity.

Support must not falter

Political prisoners' families live under constant pressure: emotional, financial, and bureaucratic. Court proceedings drag on, letters are censored, parcels may be returned. At the same time, they cannot speak publicly about their situation, fearing reprisals.

The project calls for joining the political prisoners' support week, which is taking place now. According to the organization, aid is vital not only for the prisoners themselves but also for their families, who have become a kind of invisible victims.