Question 1

Getting started

Accepted Answer

It’s pretty straightforward. Just use the form above. You can choose a specific person from the list or let Vestochka pick one at random for you.We might know a lot about some of them, while others might only have a few details like their charges and sentences. Don’t let that stop you — your words can make a big difference, no matter how much information you have!

Question 2

What can I write about?

Accepted Answer

Imagine you want to get to know someone. Start by introducing yourself — share a bit about who you are, what you enjoy doing, and what you do for work. Use your real name, but if you’re worried about privacy, you can pick a pseudonym.Don’t kick off your letter with pity or overly comforting lines like «everything will be okay» or «don’t give up.» It’s fine to show you care, but only if the person is looking for that kind of support.For your first letter, let them know why you’re reaching out. Maybe something about them caught your eye or you feel a connection. If you don’t have much information about them, just ask them to tell you more about themselves.Share a bit about your own life — like a book you’ve read, something cool you saw on a walk, a movie you watched, or a trip you took. Share your thoughts and experiences. It’s important to give them a sense of your world. Don’t feel bad about living a full life while they’re in a tough spot; sharing your experiences can be really meaningful.Remember, you’re talking to someone who’s in a tough situation. They have their own thoughts and feelings. Be sensitive and don’t assume what kind of letters they want. It’s best to ask them what they’re interested in and what kind of info they’d like. Some might want news, memes, interesting articles, or social media posts.Ask questions and listen closely. This helps them open up and share their thoughts and feelings, and it helps you understand them better and connect more.At the end of your letter, wish them well and make sure to include the date.

Question 3

On censorship: what can’t I write?

Accepted Answer

When you send letters or postcards to prisoners, they’re checked by a censor. To make sure your letter gets through, keep these tips in mind:Don’t write anything that could get the person you’re writing to in trouble. Avoid talking about the person’s criminal case. This could cause problems and might even get your letter sent to investigators. It might also cause distress for a prisoner.Skip codes, weird symbols, or unknown abbreviations.Stay away from swearing, insults, threats, or anything that could be seen as illegal, like calls for violence or overthrowing Putin.Don’t include any erotic or pornographic material.Don’t mention prison security, staff, or how to sneak in prohibited items.Avoid making negative comments about authorities or others. Mild political opinions are usually okay.Sometimes, poems or names might get rejected or censored in certain prisons.Avoid overtly queer-related topics; prisoners singled out as LGBT+ can get in trouble.Be careful with military topics: don’t talk about combat, weapons, or casualties.These rules are just common sense — don’t put anyone in a bad spot. Follow these tips, and your letter should get through. Otherwise, the censor will likely cross out or remove anything they don’t like. Also, avoid discussing anything confidential.

Question 4

Is it allowed to send photographs?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is allowed. You can attach a photograph, drawing, meme or other images to the letter. In most penal colonies and pre-trial detention centres, only black-and-white printers are available, so colour images are printed without colour.

Question 5

What language do I use in my letter?

Accepted Answer

Don’t worry if you do not write in Russian — we will translate your letter. We have already translated letters from English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Polish. With the help of our volunteers from around the world, we can translate letters from almost every language and make sure they reach their recipient.

Question 6

What are the limits on sending letters?

Accepted Answer

Number of letters:With Vestochka, you can send up to 10 identical letters. The service isn’t meant for mass mailing to all available addresses at this time. Our goal is to help you write your first letter and guide you in continuing the conversation on your own. We hope you’ll stay engaged with those who respond.Misleading:Don’t deceive your correspondent, mislead them, or pretend to be someone else. While using pseudonyms is fine, it’s best to let your correspondent know if some details or your entire biography are fictional. This helps create a more balanced exchange between you and the prisoners: we all know their names, case details, and background. The prisoners, on the other hand, have no way of verifying who they’re corresponding with or how much they can trust the person on the other end.If your letters don’t meet these criteria, unfortunately, we won’t be able to send them. In that case, we’ll notify you by email.

Question 7

Should I expect a reply and do I have to respond?

Accepted Answer

Maintaining a correspondence is more challenging than writing the first letter. But it would be wonderful if you’re able to write regularly. That way, the inmate will have a companion and someone to talk to. People who write letters consistently recommend setting reminders in their calendars. If you don’t feel up to it — that’s okay too. Even a one-time letter is a meaningful gesture and a valuable source of support.Sometimes letters can get lost, or they might not be passed on, and the person could be moved to another region. Don’t think the person in prison is upset with you or that the communication isn’t working. Just try writing again.Don’t start lots of similar conversations just for the sake of it or to «boost the numbers». It’s better to pick one person and focus on building a real connection. Always keep in mind the unique feedback and the relationship that develops between you.We advise saving a copy of your letter or taking a photo of it so you don’t forget what you wrote last time. It happens. Sometimes a lot of time passes between letters.

Question 8

How do I maintain the correspondence?

Accepted Answer

When someone in prison writes you a reply, we’ll send it to you by email along with a transcription and translation. To continue the conversation with Vestochka, follow the instructions in our reply email: find the person in the Vestochka’s list, fill out the form again, and send your letter. We cover all the expenses. It is free for you.

Question 9

I would like to send letters by myself, how do I do it?

Accepted Answer

If you want to continue writing without our help, you can use prisonmail.online. It’s a service that accepts non-Russian banking cards, but, unfortunately, not all prisons are working with it.If you have a Russian banking card, you can send letters using F-Pismo or ZT.When sending a letter by yourself, you have to provide the region and the number of the prison or pre-trial detention centre, the inmate’s full name and year of birth. You can enter your real phone number or simply any combination of digits. Please make sure to enter the correct details of the person you’re writing to — otherwise, the letter won’t reach them. You can find the inmate’s exact address on our website.Please note: the reply will come as a scanned handwritten letter in Russian.

Question 10

How else can I support Russian dissidents?

Accepted Answer

You can organize letter-writing events in your communities, push your representatives to focus on Russian political prisoners, welcome Russian exiles, donate and follow independent Russian media and NGOs — and much more. Just don’t forget about what is going on in Russia — do not relent and do not look away.

Question 11

It says that the prisoner I was assigned was tried for terrorism, or extremism or something else scary, what’s up with that?

Accepted Answer

The Kremlin is using scary labels to justify its repression against innocent people.Of course, a sentence for terrorism does not necessarily mean that a person is a political prisoner (unlike, for example, a sentence for «spreading fake news about the Russian army»). And yet we can say that there are at least several groupings of political crackdowns using the threat of terror as a pretext to go after innocents.First, hundreds of people have been sentenced to long terms due to their alleged involvement in the Islamist party of Hizb ut-Tahrir — this is used primarily as a pretext for crackdowns on Crimean Tatars. The party was banned as a terrorist organization, although there is no evidence that it had any connection with terrorist activity in Russia or Crimea.Second, the article on calls for terrorism or justification of terrorism (Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code) is considered a «terrorist» article, and is increasingly being applied to those who, due to their disagreement with the war, allow themselves to make harsh statements against the Kremlin.Third, since the beginning of the war, the authorities have begun to regard the arson of military registration and enlistment offices as terrorist attacks, although there has not been a single case of anyone being seriously harmed by these protest arsons.Finally, there are a number of cases in which terrorist activity, including through falsification of evidence, is attributed to opponents of the Kremlin. This is done in order to reduce their support in society and put them behind bars for a long time. The article on state treason is used in a similar manner.

Sergei Kovtoniuk

How to write the letter?