Letters to political prisoners: why, what and how

Hundreds of people are now imprisoned or detained pending trial in Russia as a result of politically motivated cases. You can support them by writing a letter.

Unfortunately, the Russian prison system only processes letters to inmates that are written entirely in the Russian language (more on that below). If you cannot write in Russian, you will have to have your message translated for it to reach the prisoner. Contact us if you need help.

Why write to political prisoners?

Political prisoners say that letters from outside are a source of huge support. Life in custody, where every day is the same,  is very monotonous and devoid of any stimulus. Communication with the outside world is tremendously important in such circumstances.

Letters also play a role  in  a prisoner’s safety. They let the prison administration and staff know that there are people outside who care about the inmate and follow what is happening to that person.

Who do I write to?

Memorial - Support for Political Prisoners is a group that maintains and updates the list of current political prisoners in Russia.

You can consult the general list of political prisoners recognized by Memorial and the list of prisoners persecuted on religious grounds, including their addresses in detention. Both are only available in the Russian language.

What should I write about?

There can be no guideline of what to write about. You can, for instance, send a postcard from a trip, share your latest life experiences, talk about books and films and recent events. If you are familiar with your addressee’s profession, you can discuss new developments in that field.

One common reason why people hesitate to write a letter is a concern that it may be emotionally hard for the prisoner to read about the kind of  life outside that they are deprived of. But that is hardly ever the case. What is truly hard is the lack of warm feelings and stimulating conversations.

What should I avoid writing?

Avoid commiserating with your addressee or asking them to “cheer up”. Many prisoners do not appreciate being pitied or even find it annoying.

Many prisoners will be especially happy to receive a postcard for their birthday or on New Year’s day, however, do not forget that Muslims and Jehova’s Witnesses don't celebrate these holidays.

What rules to follow?

Prisoners are denied postal privacy: all letters must be approved for delivery by an inspector.

This means that you have to follow several annoying rules to make sure that your message reaches your addressee and does not put them into harm’s way.

Of course, you must not discuss the circumstances of your addressee’s case, as it may be used against them.

The letter must be written entirely in the Russian language. No exceptions are made whatsoever: there may not even be specific  words or translated quotes in other languages, including even languages native to the Russian Federation’s territory. Foul language, acronyms and anything that may seem as cypher or coded to the inspector can and will be used as pretexts to deny delivery.

For the prisoner’s safety, it is important to avoid particular subjects, such as Ukraine, the war, and anything considered “extremist” or “terrorist” in current Russian practice. You must absolutely refrain from LGBTQ topics, for the reasons described above but also because even a tangential association with LGBTQ can be dangerous for an inmate of a Russian prison.

Err on the side of caution with these rules and even more so if your addressee is famous. Keep in mind that the list of taboo topics is subject to rapid change in today’s Russia.

How can I send a letter online?

Sending a letter online by using an international bank card for payment is possible with this dedicated service:  prisonmail.online.

Write  your message on the website, indicating the recipient’s address, full name and date of birth as requested. If you would like to receive a reply, check the optional “get a response” box.

The processing fee is $1.50 for a letter of up to 2,500 signs (500 words), plus an additional $1.50 for an enclosed image and $1.50 more if “get a response” is checked.