In November, we celebrate the Day of Struggle for Freedom and Democracy in the Czech Republic. And it was during these days that people on the Republic Square in Prague were able to commemorate the fates of those who were unjustly denied their freedom through an outdoor exhibition. They could also learn more about the possibilities of supporting them.
Political persecution has deep historical roots in Russia. Repression once again serves the current regime as a tool of silencing, generating hundreds of political prisoners. Among them are men and women of various ages, pensioners and minors, residents of large cities and rural areas, representatives of various professions from activists and journalists to businessmen, priests and housewives. Their non-violent resistance to the war against Ukraine and the current Russian government is often redeemed by harsh sentences.
The situation of political prisoners in Russia is presented at the exhibition by the organizations Gulag.cz and Memorial ČR through 10 selected stories illustrated by the Russian artist Lilya Matveyeva, who currently lives in exile in Berlin. However, this is only a fraction of the total number of other unjustly imprisoned people, about whose fates not much is known in Europe. At the same time, each of them deserves the attention and support of the free world. Let's not forget them!
The exhibition was first presented on September 30, 2024 in the Valdštejnská zahrada in Prague and its guest of honor was human rights activist and member of the Memorial organization Oleg Orlov, who was only recently released from Russian prison. He then helped us install the exhibition on the Republic Square in Prague in November 2024 and symbolically installed a panel with his own story, which is also part of the exhibition.
Read more about the exhibition here.
