The “You Are Not Alone” fundraiser, held on June 12 by independent Russian media outlets in partnership with the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), raised more than 12 million rubles ($150,000) to support Russian political prisoners and their families.
By the end of the broadcast, donations had reached 12,429,395 rubles (about $155,000) — and fundraising is still ongoing.
Proceeds will help cover essential expenses for political prisoners and their families — from food and medicine to legal defense and travel for prison visits.
The campaign included a 12-hour live broadcast, streamed on the organizers’ websites, the TV Rain television channel, and the YouTube channels Popular Politics and Navalny Live. Guests included independent journalists, bloggers, opposition figures, politicians, and human rights advocates.
People facing political persecution in Russia — and their families — need your support. If you live outside Russia, please consider contributing to the fundraiser here. Because it’s not safe for people inside Russia to donate, support from abroad is essential.
This marks the third annual “You Are Not Alone” solidarity fundraiser. As in previous years, the drive will continue through the summer. For example, a memorial concert for Alexey Navalny will take place in Berlin on June 28. And on June 7, the FBK raised 1.9 million rubles ($24,165) during a live-streamed badminton match on the Navalny Live YouTube channel.
Last year’s campaign raised over 24 million rubles ($305,248) on June 12 alone. By the end of the year, the total had surpassed 45 million rubles ($572,352). In 2024, 7,900 people donated, with 1,033 signing up for recurring contributions. More than 300 political prisoners and their families received support — and over 100 of them now receive regular assistance thanks to ongoing donations.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, nearly 20,000 people have been detained for anti-war protests, according to the human rights group OVD-Info. At least 1,171 individuals have faced criminal charges, and more than 11,000 misdemeanor cases have been opened under laws against “discrediting” the Russian military.