Support the Unseen Victims
Support the Unseen Victims

Political Repression Has More Victims Than You See

Russia now counts hundreds of political prisoners — more than in the waning years of the Soviet Union — whose only “crime” is to have political or religious beliefs unwelcome under Vladimir Putin’s regime. But they are not the only victims. Their families, many with young children, are left to survive on their own while their loved ones are taken away by a repressive state.
Support the unseen victims of repressions

Our mission

We help ensure that voices of political prisoners in Russia are heard around the world and that the names of those courageously standing up to Putin’s regime are not forgotten.

Learn more about our mission

Why we do it?

We highlight cases of political repression in Russia to help foster a better understanding of the inhuman nature of the Putin regime and to counter it with solidarity and support to its victims.

Read political prisoners’ testimonies

How can you help?

With your help, we provide direct financial support to families of political prisoners in Russia which is crucial for their everyday survival.

Help the families now

The 30 October Foundation is backed by an inspiring board of life-long human rights defenders, dissidents and former political prisoners

The Foundation President

Evgenia Kara-Murza
Political prisoners are the embodiment of the nation’s conscience. We simply cannot leave them one on one with the repressive state. They need our solidarity, and it is our duty to stand with them and their families.

The Board

Natalia Arno

Irwin Cotler

Sergei Davidis

Carl Gershman

Sergei Lukashevsky

Adam Michnik

Alexander Podrabinek

Vadim Prokhorov

Natan Sharansky

Quotes

Natan Sharansky

A political prisoner is concerned about two things – whether the struggle continues and whether his family is doing well. The aim of this foundation is to take care of some of these concerns.

Sergey Lukashevsky

The main objective of political repression is to intimidate. To make a person believe that standing up to a dictatorship means being alone in the face of the powerful state machine. This is why it is so crucially important to support not only political prisoners themselves but also their families. People who end up behind bars for their opinions or beliefs should feel that they are not alone; both political prisoners themselves and their families need to know that they are remembered and supported.

Natalia Arno

Political prisoners in a dictatorial Russia of today are the bravest individuals who were not afraid to speak out against tyranny and sacrificed their freedom for our common aspiration to make Russia free and democratic. They are our moral compass and it’s our unequivocal duty to continue their fight and to advocate for their release.

Sergei Davidis

The Foundation is a unique instrument of showing solidarity with political prisoners and of supporting them and their families. It is important that the Foundation’s mission is to help political prisoners not because they hold views similar to ours, but because they are victims of politically-motivated and unlawful persecution. But most importantly, the Foundation was established by Vladimir Kara-Murza, a political prisoner himself, and that is deeply symbolical.

Irwin Cotler

The families of political prisoners face unique, painful and extraordinary struggles when their loved ones are taken from them and unjustly detained. It is not only the pain caused by their unjust imprisonment and physical absence, but often the loss of their moral and financial foundation, as well. The support that the 30 October Foundation will provide these family members represents a lifeline that is both crucial for their survival and ability to endure in the fight to bring their loved one home.