What Does a Book Mean in Prison?
Next Friday, the Sakharov Center hosts the launching of the Russian leg of the Books for Prisoners international campaign. Mikhail Khodorkovsky is to express his support for the event participants via Skype (podcast begins at 7pm)
Last April, the UK’s PEN club announced the launch of a #BooksForPrisoners campaign amidst local authorities’ drive to ban sending book parcels to prisons. Authors and high profile prisoners from all over the world talk about what books mean to prisoners and how they help one not lose faith in oneself or one’s humanity. The subject is relevant not just in the UK but in other countries as well. Hence, on June 6, the following individuals will contribute to the campaign by sharing their stories and perspectives:
• Nadia Tolokno and Maria Alyokhina, Pussy Riot
• Yelena Volkova, cultural studies expert
• Anna Karetnikova, Moscow’s ONK (public monitoring committee)
• Alexander Podrabinek, human rights advocate
• Olga Romanova, ‘Russia in Prison’
On that day, as well as others, we look forward to book gifts for prisoners. Books do not need to be new but they absolutely have to be good books. The Sakharov Center is open for book donations 11.00 to 19.00.
Podcast is available at: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sakharov-center
