WOMEN AGAINST WAR

Installation on the forecourt of MuseumQuartier Wien

Opening with vize chancellor Andreas Babler: Tue 09.12., 17h
 

16 stories of women in Russia who have faced political repression and state violence because of their views and activism

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February 2022, thousands of women in Russia have been taking action and putting their own safety at serious risk by protesting against war and Putin’s regime. From schoolgirls to grandmothers, women in different regions, small towns and big cities joined street protests, organised subversive campaigns that shed light on Russia's war crimes, distributed anti-war leaflets and DIY partisan newspapers, resisted mobilisation, and helped Ukrainian refugees and displaced people from occupied territories. In response, the Russian state has carried out house raids, fabricated criminal cases, arrests, used police brutality and torture.
 

Following the outbreak of the full-scale war, the number of women imprisoned for political reasons and subjected to political repression in Russia increased significantly:

In 2024, the percentage of women among political prisoners in Russia reached its highest level in 14 years –27% of the total..
Since February 2022, more than 20,000 people have been detained for expressing anti-war views or engaging in anti-war activism.
According to the Memorial human rights organisation, more than 4,000 people are currently imprisoned or remanded for political reasons in Russia and the occupied Ukrainian territories. This figure is only a minimal estimation and the real number could be twice as high.
Currently, more than 70 women are officially recognised as political prisoners. According to human rights experts, more than 260 women are imprisoned or remanded for political reasons, but the actual figure could be as high as 1,000. (Sources: Memorial PZK, OVD-Info).

This is the second edition of the Women Against War street exhibition, curated by the Feminist Anti-War Resistance. The first exhibition took place in Paris in 2023.

The portraits were created by FLINTA artists from Russia and Belarus. Many of these artists have also faced political repression due to their anti-war stance or activism. Some of them must participate anonymously because taking part in an exhibition like this poses a serious risk to their safety.

This exhibition has been realized with support of the Austrian Ministry of Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport.

The texts reflect solely the opinions of the artists and curators involved in the project.

SUPPORT WOMEN POLITICAL PRISONERS IN RUSSIA

The exhibition only displays the stories of sixteen women. However, there are still thousands of women in Russia with similar stories and they need help.To survive in a Russian prison, one needs constant financial support to access healthy food, medicine, and other essentials, as well as a lawyer. Without this money, the detention conditions are simply unbearable. Many political prisoners can only rely on like-minded individuals for help. Russian human rights projects are in constant struggle to raise enough money to support all prisoners in need of long-term assistance. Even the smallest donation makes a difference.

The Feminist Anti-War Resistance (FAR) is a grassroots movement initiated by feminist activists from Russia on 25 February 2022 in response to the Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. FAR curates the exhibition Women Against War to support women in Russia who have faced political repression and state violence.

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ABOUT FAR

FAR started off as an emergency chat room, but has since evolved into a horizontal network of dozens of autonomous groups (or “cells”) in Russia and abroad. Our movement comprises people of different genders, ages and backgrounds, including people from marginalised groups who have experienced various forms of violence and discrimination. Some of us had to flee the country, while others have remained and continued their activism underground.

Currently, we have multiple anonymous cells in Russia that engage in underground activism. Additionally, there are more than fifteen active cells located abroad in multiple countries, including Austria (FAR Vienna), that operate more openly and publicly.

We support Ukrainian women and the Ukrainian people in general, as well as their political demands. We actively participate in initiatives to help those affected by Russian aggression. We advocate the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory and the return of all occupied areas to Ukraine. We believe that sustainable peace and justice cannot be achieved under Russian occupation.

We aim to unite with civil society and activists from around the world to resist Putin’s regime and it’s allies worldwide, deconstruct Kremlin propaganda narratives, support the Ukrainian people, resist authoritarianism and the rise of the far-right politics. We recognise that Putin is one of the key figures driving the global conservative shift.

The Russian government has labeled FAR as a "foreign agent” and banned as “undesirable" organisation, which makes participation in our movement illegal and increases our risks. In 2023 FAR have been honoured with the International «Aachen Peace Prize for Bravery and Civil Courage».

Our values and goals are outlined in the Manifesto, which can be found on our website: femantiwar.org

FAR Vienna activities in Austria

• We oppose the far-right politics in Austria and local far-right groups.
• We monitor, protest and denounce Putin’s allies in Austria.
• We are resisting the Russian fossil fuel industry. We oppose fossil fuel deals and “business as usual” with Putin's regime. We stand for climate justice.
• We organise solidarity events in support of people in Ukraine and in support of political prisoners in Russia.
• We collaborate with local activists and human rights groups based in Austria.

SUPPORT FAR

To help us continue our activist work, please consider becoming a one-off or monthly donor. Even the smallest donations makes a significant difference and help it sustain our movement. We are calling for international support and solidarity!

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Curators: Lölja Nordic, Feminist Anti-war Resistance, FAR Wien 

Artists: Kristina Akhmadieva, Daria Apakhonchich, artemis, p. b., Dasha Burleshina, Mira Gafar, Alisa Gorshenina, Baba Pasha, Alina Panasenko, Vika Privalova, Maria Rakhmaninova, Alexandra Skochilenko und Künstler:innen, die anonym bleiben möchten.

Designer: HVOII (Anastasiia Shilova), Gala_Gala