INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
she replaced supermarket price tags with statements criticizing the invasion of Ukraine and the killing of Ukrainian civilians.Defending her
same time, her own life was at risk
She suffers from health conditions including celiac disease, which requires a strict diet that was not always available in detention, as
well as a congenital heart defect.This month, Skochilenko became one of over a dozen political prisoners released by Moscow in a prisoner
exchange between Russia and the West.The Moscow Times spoke with Skochilenko and her girlfriend, Sofia Subbotina, who supported her
throughout her trial, about the exchange and their future plans.MT:Were you expecting to be included on the list of political prisoners up
for exchange?Alexandra Skochilenko: Not at all
That never even crossed my mind
There was hope when people started talking about a possible exchange at the beginning of 2024
But being part of that exchange was a dream
I never really believed I could actually get on that plane
At times, I felt despair and envisioned my future that way
But more often, I imagined that I would continue to find ways to cope, to adapt to prison life and find small joys in it
Another bad outcome I imagined was serving my entire sentence without being released on parole and being transferred to a distant colony, as
has happened to some political prisoners
But I also imagined more hopeful futures
anything about the upcoming exchange until the very last minute
Sasha disappeared from her detention center and we were told she had most likely been taken to Moscow
That night, we booked train tickets and went to Moscow, to Lefortovo Prison
On Tuesday, we went around to different detention centers again, but with no results
But that evening, reports about the exchange started appearing everywhere
At that point, we began to feel some hope
But I was very scared for Sasha because I realized that we had been out of contact with her for three days.On August 1, I knew I wanted to
see Sasha as soon as possible
I understood that I might be leaving the country forever
By the evening of August 1, everyone was saying that the political prisoners would likely be taken to Germany
So I booked a flight from Istanbul to Berlin
Just as I was boarding, while going through passport control, Sasha called me
They gave her a phone for only about 30 seconds
We were just very happy to see each other
That same evening, Sasha was released from the hospital [where she had been in quarantine]
We went to a hotel and walked around for a long time that evening
There were, of course, a lot of emotions.MT:What were the conditions like before the exchange?AS: At Lefortovo [just before the exchange], I
was very cold because, upon arrival, they took almost all of my belongings and gave me prison clothes.I have very low blood pressure and
anemia, so I was freezing
There were also problems with food because, although the doctor who examined me upon arrival noted that I have celiac disease, it seems they
no idea.MT:How were your first days of freedom and what are your future plans?AS: We stayed in a wonderful little German town
I worked on new drawings, bought supplies for my art
I want to continue human rights work
I really want to do whatever I can for the people who remain in Russia, for those in prison, and for their families
We plan to stay in Germany
We really like the country
We want to learn the language and build our new life here.MT:Do you dream of returning to Russia someday?AS: Of course, I do, but only as a
My relationship with Russia was like being with an abuser
involved in putting me in prison
