“The authorities reacted sharply to the publications.” Interview with ex-political prisoner Ivan Astashin

In 2009, Astashin took part in an action during which young people threw a Molotov cocktail at the FSB office building. As a result, no one was injured. Nevertheless, the FSB combined this arson with other similar episodes, and thus the case of the “Autonomous Combat Terrorist Organization” (ABTO) was born. The convicts repeatedly stated that in reality such an organization did not exist - the investigation combined various arson attacks into a single case.

Ten young people were involved in the case - two groups of different ideological views. According to the defendants, this indicates that they could not commit the crimes they are charged with as a single organization. Most of them were sentenced to terms of 6 to 12 years in prison; all were tried under articles of terrorism. Astashin first received 13 years - he was recognized as the leader of ABTO, but later his sentence was reduced to 9 years and 9 months. At the end of his sentence, Astashin was sentenced to 8 years of administrative supervision, since he was convicted under an article on terrorism .

How would you succinctly describe your business?

— It was a protest action - they threw Molotov cocktails at the FSB building at night, when they thought that no one was there. We wanted to protest against the lawlessness of the FSB. If interpreted according to the Criminal Code, then this is hooliganism. I agree that we violated Russian laws, but I do not agree with the qualifications.

Our action was combined with another case and we were given an organized crime group plus terrorism. There are five of us from the FSB and another group. The four of them set seven arsons. Our views differed - the shares of the second group speak for themselves. In addition to police stations, they set fire to migrants' shopping tents.

Have you kept in touch with those convicted in your case?

— I kept in touch with my accomplices. We corresponded with those who were released. We exchanged greetings with those who were sitting through mutual friends.

How would you describe current political views?

— They have evolved, I went to prison at the age of 18. Before, I had narrower views, perhaps wrong in some places. But as he was for freedom and justice, he remained so. Today, all definitions are somewhat outdated, and something new is needed. When you name a similar ideology, it’s immediately negative. Nowadays there is a negative image for any political definition - be it a liberal, a socialist, or an anarchist. Now I'm closest to anti-authoritarian socialists and libertarians.

How do you feel after a day of freedom?

- The feeling that everything is as it should be, that he has been released. Moscow, of course, has changed a lot - so much has changed in 10 years. When I saw the metro map, I was so surprised - all these new rings and diameters. I’m used to writing, but I’ve somewhat forgotten how to speak in long phrases - usually prisoners have short dialogues and they are quite specific.