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Stories from Odessa Prison
Bogdan Zinchenko Organizes Komsomol Cell in Prison
The last story from Odessa is that of Bogdan Zinchenko, one of the
defendants in the so-called "Odessa case" charged in "terrorism" and
"conspiracy to overthrow the Ukrainian state". In the face of physical
and psychological tortures, Bogdan has shown more than supreme courage.
Last winter he began communist propaganda in his cell, filled mostly
with petty criminals. He talked to them about life, politics. He explained
to them that they got into prison because millions of people were
unemployed and many other did not get their wages paid. It is these
social conditions that make people to steal. He told them that the
real criminals were those in power, that they were guilty of genocide
of the people. He also told them that he and his friends were thrown
to prison because they were fighting this system.
As the result of these political conversations Zinchenko and 14 of
his prison mates formed a Komsomol cell (only one inmate has declined).
And this organisation began fighting. Its members discussed national
and international news. When the the imperialists attacked Iraq they
had a meeting and wrote a letter of protest to President Bush and
demanded that the prison administration send it to Washington. They
also published a "wall newspaper" by covering the walls of the cell
with slogans like "Bush is a ganster!", "We are for the USSR!" This
led to the brutal beating of these Komsomol men by special prison
guards. Zinchenko was awarded the worst beating. -Do you want to say
that we can write "Fuck you!" but not "We are for the USSR"? - he
asked them and the guards would beat him again. They sent Zinchenko
into punishment cell many times because he refused to stop his political
work in the prison.
These are some of the addresses where you could call or send the letters
of protest. If you send us a copy of your letter we will translate
it into Russian and publish.
In solidarity,
Editors, Left.ru
pochta@left.ru
President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma
01008, Kiev, ul. Bankovaia, 11
Tel: (38-044) 291- 5333
Fax: (38-044)255-61-61
www.president.gov.ua/feedback/
Prosecutor-General of UKRAINE
MSP 01601
Kiev –11 Risnizka Street 13/15
Tel: (38-044) 291 –2701
Fax: (38-044)290-22-69
SUPREME COURT of UKRAINE:
Chairman V. T. Maliarenko
01024, Kiev-24, ul. P. Orlika, 4.
Fax: (38-044)253-03-14
E-mail: supcourt@scourt.gov.ua
THE MINISTRY CABINET of UKRAINE
Viktor Yanukovich
01008, Kiev-8, Grushevskogo street 12/2.
Fax: (38-044)293-16-63.
UKRAINIAN PARLAMENT “RADA”
Kiev- 008
Grushnevskogo Street N 5
Litvin V.M.
Tel: (38-044) 254 – 0890, 226-32-63, 293-16-63
Fax: (38-044) 293-21-71
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