Break the Isolation — Write to Russian Political Prisoners

OVD-Info has created a special postbox featuring real letters from people persecuted for their political views.

We  are happy to invite you to the House of Democracy in Berlin, where the  prominent Russian human rights NGO OVD-Info has installed the Postbox of Hope.  OVD-Info documents political repression in Russia, provides legal  assistance to victims of politically motivated persecution, and reports  on human rights violations across the country.

The Postbox of Hope is a physical mailbox where visitors can read authentic letters from  Russian political prisoners and learn how to write back to them. The  project is part of OVD-info’s international initiative Vestochka, through which more than 17,000 letters have already been sent to people imprisoned for political reasons in Russia.

You  do not need to speak Russian to participate. Vestochka works with  volunteers from different countries who are happy to translate your  letters into Russian and translate responses back into your preferred  language. The service is completely free and anonymous — you only need  to leave your mailing address to receive letters!

For  political prisoners, receiving letters is a way to break through  isolation. Alongside poor prison conditions — lack of free time,  inadequate food, limited access to healthcare, and harsh living  conditions — many prisoners also suffer from deliberate social  isolation.

When  prison authorities see that a prisoner receives letters from around the  world, it sends a powerful message: this person has not been forgotten.  International attention can sometimes help protect prisoners from  additional pressure or abuse.

We  are also preparing an exhibition about Russian political prisoners to  accompany the postbox installation. Visitors will be able to learn more  about how political repression works in contemporary Russia.

We look forward to welcoming you and discussing this important issue together.