My wife is in prison for the leadership of the headquarters of Navalny

For the sake of helping her, I refused good work, spent savings and lost friends

Usually we hear about the wives of prisoners and much less often - about men who are waiting for women from prison. Almaz Gatin is such an exception. For three years he has been supporting his wife, who has been pursued for political reasons. Lilia Chanysheva was the head of Navalny’s headquarters in Ufa, in the fall of 2021 she - the first of the coordinators of the regional headquarters - was arrested in the case of participation in extremist activities . She passed the most severe sentence among coordinators - nine and a half years of imprisonment. For almost three years, Gatin has been traveling from the city to the city, where his wife has been transferred to support her and make gears. During this time, he lost promising work and many friends. Now Gatin hopes that Lily will have mercy and release. He told his Kholoda his love and loss story.

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"I want to be next to this strong woman"

When my father died in 2016, I was very difficult to worry. My emotional state was reflected in health: I did not pass pneumonia for a long time, and I went to the hospital. There I came across a paper newspaper in which I saw an article where a beautiful young girl talked about interesting projects in the field of audit and economic programs. This was an interview with Lilia Chanysheva. I was delighted with her smile in the photo, her angelic beauty and how she discussed about the economy of our region. Then Lilia worked in the company from the Big Four ( the four largest companies in the world that provide audit and consulting services. - approx. "Cold" ). I wanted to meet her, I had a desire to live, fight, some meaning appeared.

I recovered and soon found her on social networks. I understood that hundreds of men write such a beauty and it was necessary to somehow stand out. I noticed that in one of the winter photographs she stood on the street in sneakers, and wrote to take care of herself and shook herself warmer. Probably, this manifestation of care hooked Lily. We began to correspond, and on February 13, 2017 we first saw ourselves live.

On the first date, she said that she was facing a choice: to continue her career or engage in civilian activism. At that time, she worked in Moscow for several years and returned to Ufa because she wanted to help the native region. She managed to earn an apartment and a car, traveled a lot, she had great career prospects. I am sure: if she remained in the corporation, she would already become a business partner. But it was important for her to benefit: she saw many problems in Bashkortostan and wanted to use her experience for the good of the region.

I myself did not engage in activism and was not very interested in politics. He believed that it was enough to benefit in the area in which I understand - in the development of innovative building materials. But I did not dissuade Lilia, on the contrary, I was always sure that women should not be condescending to women, they say, sit at home, give birth to children and wash the diapers. They should be able to be realized in those areas that are interesting to them, whether it be culture, art or politics. At the first meeting with Lilia, I saw that she has a dream in which she believes - that our region can be made better. Then I realized that I want to be next to this strong woman and support her.

"Made her a proposal right in the special reception"

In March 2017, Lilia opened the headquarters of Navalny in Ufa, became a coordinator there and began to hold protests . The inhabitants of our region addressed it, talked about their problems. She helped them write official requests, made anti -corruption investigations , carefully studied budget projects and made its proposals , tried to participate in local elections.

At first we were friends. We agreed that if she goes to the rally, then I will stay at home so that in the event of her detention, I could quickly inform lawyers about this and make gearboxes to the special receiver. Later, our relations grew into romantic, and we began to live together. I earned well, we traveled, Lilia worked at Navalny's headquarters. In 2020, she took an active part in the protests in the defense of Shikhan Kustau , who was then to defend ( in August 2020, residents of Bashkortostan did not allow local authorities to give Mount Kuzhtau for industrial development the structures of the Bashkir Soda Company. - Note to Kholoda ).

Until 2021, I did not feel that Lilia was in serious danger: she had administrative arrests and fines, but we worried about it easily. Everything changed after the poisoning of Alexei Navalny and his return to Russia. During the shares [in support of Navalny after his detention] on January 23 and 31, 2021, I realized that the situation was worsening. We noticed surveillance before: in the courtyard of our house a car regularly was on duty. But at the beginning of 2021, there were already several cars, they were closely monitored by Lily, the feeling that the pressure had increased significantly.

In February, Lily was arrested for 10 days. I decided that it was time to take the business in my own hands, and made her an offer right in the special reception. I apologized for doing this in such circumstances, I joked that four years have passed since our acquaintance and this can be considered the first presidential term, and in the second one would have to legitimize our relationship. Lilia agreed, and immediately after her release we filed an application to the registry office.

For two months, while we were preparing for the wedding, Lilia from a concentrated disturbing person turned into a happy woman. She chose dishes for the restaurant, the color of paper for invitation letters, thought out the dress. She finally began to smile a lot.

We got married on April 17, 2021. The day before, the prosecutor's office demanded that the FBK and headquarters of Navalny with extremist organizations. Despite this, the day of our wedding was very happy: we gathered in the company of close people, danced. For us, this was the first big event after the removal of covid restrictions. Then I still did not know that the authorities would be so cruel to my spouse.

On April 21, we went on a wedding trip to Armenia, and on April 26, Lily announced the closure of Navalny’s headquarters in Ufa. We really wanted to have a child. Lilia did not want to leave Russia, as some other headquarters did this: it was important for her to stay where her house and parents were located. In the summer of the same year, she wrote a post in which she stated that she decided to leave politics. We believed that it was a clear signal to the authorities, after which they would lag behind her.

Now I think that it was necessary to make a proposal of Lilia back in 2020, when we were sitting on quarantine due to covid restrictions. Probably, then by 2021 she could already give birth and would not have taken her so hard. But I do not like to plunge into these reasoning, because it is pointless: you can’t scatter the minced meat back. At our first meeting, Lilia said: "The choice is what determines your future." I try to always keep this phrase in my head. We have made our choice and now we live with what is.

"After the wedding, we were able to spend less than seven months together"

On November 9, 2021, I woke up at six in the morning from the fact that people with machine guns stood above our bed: they came to us with a search. At that moment, we thought that Lilia was at an early stage of pregnancy. I was scared that employees could hit her with a butt or a boot. I remember that I automatically moved my husband to stand behind me.

After the search, she was taken away for interrogation to the Investigative Committee. This was not the first time for us, it was already interrogated in the UK, but then, in 2019, everything ended quickly and I was able to take it home. And this time she was no longer released . I first saw how handcuffs put on my spouse. I was furious and at the same time felt helpless. Later we learned that Lilia was not pregnant.

From Ufa Lily was sent to Moscow, where investigative actions were held. I flew after her and was able to transmit in the first days of her stay in the Moscow pre -trial detention center. She later told how it was important for her to see this gear: she realized that I did not turn away from her, that she had support, that she was not alone.

Lily was kept in Moscow for a year and a half. All this time I rented an apartment there, found part -time jobs, and every week I wore a gear to my wife. In the spring of 2023, she was returned to Ufa, where the court was supposed to take place, and I again went after her. The court sessions lasted almost six months, until June 14, judge Azamat Bikchurin, was sentenced. He appointed Lilia seven and a half years in prison.

While the investigation was going on, we could not see each other: investigators forbade both calls and personal meetings. Imagine: after the wedding, we were able to spend less than seven months together, and then my wife was taken from me. Only a year and a half after the arrest, she was still allowed for two meetings per month: once I came, the second - her parents.

When I first saw Lily after a long separation, a lot of feelings surged over me: it is at the same time anger with rage and love. It is very difficult to see a loved one in the dungeons - dates passed through glass and bars, we could only talk on the phone. Not so we imagined the beginning of our marital life! My wife, of course, was also very moved. Then I asked Lilia if she was holding an offense against me. She forbade me to ask this question and said that my support and love help her go through all these trials.

In November 2023, the appeal was considered, and the court approved the verdict of Lilia, after which she was sent to serve his sentence to the colony in the Perm Territory. I again went after her to make gears and support her.

After leaving the Ufa pre -trial detention center, she lost the right to regular dates. The last time I saw the wife of February. Perhaps the authorities wanted to destroy our family, but they failed. I think we are helped by our love - conscious, we decided to be together when we were both over 30 (now Liliya Chanysheva is 42 years old, and the diamond - 44. - approx. "Cold") , we entered into a relationship, having great life experience.

"I spent all the savings"

I do not want to complain, I tell you just for understanding: to support a loved one who is in conclusion is very expensive. If you want a loved one to eat well, you need to spend about 10-15 thousand rubles on transfers with products weekly. In addition, she needs linen and medicines, and I need to rent housing. At least 100 thousand rubles per month come out in total.

With my previous work I had to leave back in 2020. Then someone called the company's management and said that I need to get rid of me because I support Lilia Chanyshev. Since then, I have been interrupted by freelance and part -time jobs, since I managed to gain a reputation and connections in my field. Of course, this is not at all the level of income that I had. Theoretically, I could choose my financial well -being. But I chose Lily.

For almost three years that Lilia was in prison, I spent all the savings that I put off on the purchase of an apartment - this is not one million rubles. I have not turned to anyone for help and never asked anyone, because I wanted to deal with everything myself. We cannot accept money from people who were recognized in Russia in Russia or Estremists, because now I and the parents of Lilia are threatened.

In March 2024, Lilia was sent to Ufa - to a cassation, where she was increased up to nine and a half years. Since May, she is again in the colony of the Perm Territory, where she will continue to serve her term. Lilia was trained on the seamstress and since the beginning of June has been working in a colony.

Now I am in Ufa, because only now that appeals and cassation have passed, we will be returned to the equipment and money that were seized during the search in November 2021. When I finish with these matters, I will go to the Perm Territory again to be closer to Lilia. I will always be with her, because I took an oath on our wedding day.

I see in social networks there are many statements from critics who allow myself to write, they say, it was necessary to leave, why she remained. I don’t understand why these people do not belong to my wife and other political prisoners with care. Being in prison, worrying stages that last more than one week, and so very difficult. At the same time, Lilia did not slide into anger, did not betray herself and others. She could make a deal with the investigation and would already be free, but she chose a different way.

"I constantly think about her"

The first year after the arrest of Lilia was very difficult for me. Absolutely all friends and friends turned away from me. People just did not pick up the phone when I called. I was corroded by hatred and anger, and it was difficult to stay with these feelings alone. I think that relatives of political prisoners need not only financial support, which they began to talk more about, but also psychological, although I myself did not contact a psychologist for help: I ​​used to cope with my problems myself, like a single wolf.

After some time, several acquaintances apologized and explained that they were scared. I don’t know what exactly they were afraid of. I never asked them this question. I think that fear is a feeling that we should not let in, otherwise it will completely swallow us.

My situation was also complicated by the fact that at the end of 2022 my mother found an oncological disease. I did not advertise it before. For a year and a half, how mother has been undergoing treatment: surgery and chemotherapy courses. She gets worse, I pray every day so that Lilia would be released as soon as possible, and my mother lived for a long time and is able to see our children.

I feel bad and lonely without my wife. How am I doing? I meditate, communicate with the parents of Lilia, help my mother. Recently, I began to engage in a land plot that I got from my father: I put him in order, plant trees. Earth is always grateful for attention to her. Someone goes into books, but I can’t do it. My thoughts are always occupied by Lily, I constantly think about it and about how we could live together if they had not taken it from me.

Lily recently wrote a letter asking for pardon in the name of the president (it states that in April 2021, Chanysheva “voluntarily ceased to participate and management of the organization recognized in August 2021 extremist.” - approx. “Cold”) . I hope that it will be released and our dream of the birth of a child will come true.