More than 5.000 people as of early 2026 are imprisoned for political reasons. They have been incarcerated for speaking out against the Russian authorities or for actions considered unacceptable by the dictatorship. Many of them suffer from serious or chronic illnesses. Their physical condition makes imprisonment life-threatening, yet their health continues to deteriorate behind bars. They receive little or no proper medical care. When we launched this campaign in November 2024, there were 120 people on the list of political prisoners with health issues. Today, the campaign website lists more than 270 people —and that number continues to grow. Their situation becomes more precarious every day. Their numbers increase every year. More than 52 prisoners of the regime are known to have already died in prison or during the process of persecution. We are working to secure the release of prisoners in need of urgent medical care and to raise funds to help them survive until that moment. These people need protection. public attention, and solidarity. We call on politicians in democratic countries not to turn a blind eye to the repression of civil society in Russia. We hope that this year they will find ways to free those who are currently sacrificing their lives and health for human rights values and ideals.
The calendar celebrates the birthdays of political prisoners in Russia and includes their names and portraits. This is an artistic work of Varvara Gorbash.
