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Celiac.com 09/10/2024 - Sasha Skochilenko, a St. Petersburg artist, was sentenced to seven years in prison for her bold act of protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She replaced supermarket price tags with anti-war messages, an action deemed as spreading "fake news" about the Russian military. Despite the grave charges and the severe sentence, Sasha’s story is one of resilience and hope, especially as she faced life-threatening conditions due to her health issues, including celiac disease. In an unexpected turn of events, she was released in a political prisoner exchange between Russia and the West. This article captures her emotional journey, her unexpected release, and her reflections on the future. A Hopeful Release Skochilenko never imagined she would be included in the list of political prisoners eligible for an exchange. Although rumors of such an exchange circulated in early 2024, Sasha considered it more of a distant dream than a likely outcome. During her time in prison, she grappled with fears of dying due to her health conditions or enduring her full sentence in harsh conditions. However, she also held onto the possibility of early release, particularly because the time she spent in pre-trial detention counted towards reducing her sentence. Her girlfriend, Sofia Subbotina, shared the uncertainty and anxiety of the situation. They were kept in the dark about Sasha’s status until the last minute. When Sasha disappeared from her detention center, Sofia and her friends were left with no information. Their frantic search took them to Moscow, where they hoped to find her in one of the detention centers. It wasn’t until reports of the exchange began circulating that they felt a glimmer of hope, though they remained in suspense for days without direct contact with Sasha. The Exchange and First Taste of Freedom On August 1, Sofia made a decisive move by booking a flight to Istanbul, anticipating that Sasha and other political prisoners might be flown to Germany. Just as Sofia was going through passport control, Sasha called her for a brief 30 seconds, confirming she had been exchanged and was en route to Cologne. Their reunion, after such an intense period of uncertainty and fear, was filled with joy rather than tears. That same evening, after Sasha was released from a hospital quarantine, the couple strolled through the city, overwhelmed by the simple pleasure of being together again. Prison Conditions and Health Struggles Before her release, Sasha endured harsh conditions at Lefortovo Prison. Upon her arrival, most of her personal belongings were confiscated, and she was left with inadequate prison clothing, making it difficult to cope with the cold due to her low blood pressure and anemia. The food situation was dire as well. Despite a doctor noting her celiac disease, appropriate meals were not provided, leaving her frequently hungry with limited food options like porridge and pasta, both of which she could not eat. The prison environment was tense, with strict rules that denied her basic rights, such as daily walks, showers, and communication with the outside world. Her loved ones were misled about her whereabouts, adding to the stress and isolation she experienced. Uncertain Advocacy Despite being included in the exchange, Sasha remains unaware of who advocated for her release. She expressed no knowledge of the individuals or organizations that may have lobbied for her inclusion on the list of prisoners to be exchanged. This uncertainty highlights the complexity and opacity of political prisoner exchanges, where the mechanisms behind decisions often remain unknown even to those directly involved. A New Beginning in Germany Following her release, Sasha and Sofia found refuge in a small German town where they began to rebuild their lives. Sasha, an artist, quickly returned to her passion by purchasing new art supplies and working on drawings. The couple plans to settle in Germany, where they can live freely and safely. Sofia expressed a strong desire to continue her work in human rights, particularly focusing on helping those who remain imprisoned in Russia and their families. While Sasha dreams of returning to Russia one day, it is only as a visitor. She likens her relationship with Russia to that of an abusive relationship, one she has no intention of returning to despite any potential regime change. For now, their focus is on learning the German language and integrating into their new home, leaving the trauma of their past behind as they look towards the future. Relevance to the Celiac Community Sasha Skochilenko’s story is particularly meaningful to those with celiac disease because it underscores the critical importance of proper dietary management in severe, restrictive environments. Her struggle to access gluten-free food in prison highlights the challenges celiac patients can face in places where their needs are not understood or prioritized. This story also serves as a reminder of the resilience needed to manage chronic health conditions under extreme circumstances and the importance of advocating for proper care and accommodation, even in the most difficult situations. Read more at: themoscowtimes.com

Celiac.com 12/04/2023 - Russian artist and musician Sasha Skochilenko has been sentenced to seven years in prison for replacing supermarket price tags with antiwar slogans, sparking concerns about freedom of speech in Russia. Skochilenko was arrested in April 2022, in St. Petersburg, on charges of spreading what authorities deemed "false information about the military." She had replaced tiny price tags with messages decrying Russia's invasion of Ukraine, stating facts such as the bombing of an arts school in Mariupol and the deployment of Russian conscripts to Ukraine. Her arrest followed the enactment of a law criminalizing public expression deviating from the official line on the war in Ukraine. The legislation has been widely used to crack down on opposition figures and ordinary citizens critical of the Kremlin, resulting in many receiving lengthy prison terms. Skochilenko, aged 33, has not denied replacing the price tags but rejected the allegation of knowingly spreading false information. Instead, she asserted that her intention was to stop the fighting, not to disparage the military. Her lawyer argued that she is a peace-loving person who finds war and the suffering of people unimaginable. Skochilenko's case is part of a broader crackdown on dissenting voices in Russia. The law criminalizing public expression about the war has been used to target opposition politicians, human rights activists, and ordinary citizens who criticize the government. The legal measures have resulted in numerous individuals receiving lengthy prison sentences. Skochilenko's supporters view her as a pacifist rather than a terrorist, extremist, or political activist. Despite the verdict, her defense emphasized the absurdity of the case, questioning the imprisonment of individuals for such acts. Russian human rights groups, including the prominent Memorial group, have declared Skochilenko a political prisoner. Skochilenko has been held in pretrial detention for nearly 19 months, during which she faced health challenges, including a congenital heart defect, bipolar disorder, and celiac disease requiring a gluten-free diet. Her supporters fear that she may not receive adequate dietary and medical care if transferred to a remote penal colony. According to OVD-Info, a rights group monitoring political arrests, nearly 20,000 Russians have been arrested for speaking out or demonstrating against the war between February 2022 and late October 2023. The crackdown has resulted in over 750 people facing criminal charges for antiwar stances, with more than 8,100 facing minor charges related to discrediting the army. Stay tuned for more on this and related stories. Read more at LAtimes.com

Celiac.com 07/13/2022 - A Russian artist jailed in April for replacing price tags in supermarkets with anti-war messages has provided details of abusive conditions within a Russian prison in letters to her girlfriend. Since the start of its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Russia has attempted to crack down on anti-war protests, partly by passing a law that criminalizes the distribution of "fake news" about the Russian military or the war. Russian opposition to the war has mounted since February, and in March, Russia arrested over 13,000 protestors over the course of several weeks as anti-war rallies were held in 65 cities. The Russian artist, Alexandra Skochilenko, who also goes by the name Sasha, was arrested under that law, on April 11, for replacing supermarket price tags with anti-war slogans. She faces up to ten years in prison. In letters to her girlfriend, Skochilenko describes abuse and mistreatment, including that she "ate very little due to a lack of gluten-free food, and when she got too hungry, she ate some of the food containing gluten...This made her very sick, and she was throwing up a lot and feeling a lot of pain." Skochilenko's girlfriend of five years, Sonia Subbotina, spoke with reporters, and shared details of Skochilenko's letters. "This is definitely to do with the hardening of the authoritarian regime," Subbotina told reporters. "There is no way that a person can speak out safely. Any attempt to show an opinion that differs from the government opinion is punished very, very harshly." Skochilenko's letters detail her experience with aggressive inmates, untreated medical conditions, and gluten-containing food that makes her sick. Subbotina also said that her girlfriend has several other ailments and has been denied medical treatment for both an ovarian cyst and an impacted wisdom tooth that was scheduled for surgery before she was arrested. According to the letters, Skochilenko has also faced issues with other inmates. One letter stated that an inmate "talks to me with an authoritarian tone and constantly gives me orders." Skochilenko wrote, "She controls my every move and complains about every single one of my actions." The artist also wrote that a Russian state TV program "shouts all day" at the inmates with pro-war messages, and is only turned off at night. According to Business Insider, Skochilenko is currently held in a pre-trial detention center until at least June and faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Stay tuned for more on this and related stories. Read more in Newsweek