English translation of the text of the interview we gave to Discourse magazine on 15.02.2024.
The Anarchist Black Cross has been helping activists facing political persecution since the times of Tsarist Russia. In the 20th century, this organization spread around the world, and in Siberian Irkutsk it appeared in 2010 against the backdrop of growing authoritarianism in the country, but after a few years it stopped its activities. After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and increased repression, ABC members decided to resume their work.
We talked to members of ABC-Irkutsk about the prospects for the anarchist movement in Russia. In the interview with Discours samizdat, the activists tell us how the anarchists plan to fight apathy, general distrust and nihilism of the population, who the collective supports and who it will not help under any circumstances, how to direct people to social activities instead of completely withdrawing into everyday life, and what the anarchist community in the city will do in the event of the collapse of the regime.