[I am not a spy, I never have been. When I think back on my 1,964 days behind bars, two things come to mind: the darkness and the kindness. The darkness refers to the harsh conditions I faced in Russia’s notorious Lefortovo prison, where I was held for five and a half years on false charges of espionage. The kindness, on the other hand, is the resilience and support of my family, friends, and the three other men who were wrongly accused with me – Michael Coffey, Nadezhda Savchenko, and uleimenko.
I will always be grateful for the work of organizations like Human Rights Watch and the White House, who fought tirelessly for our release. But I hope that my story can serve as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope. It is a story of strangers who became family, of leaders who refused to give up, and of the power of the human spirit.
When I was arrested in December 2018, I was just a 46-year-old man who loved his family, his job, and his home. I was working as a security manager at a Marriott hotel in Moscow, trying to make a better life for myself. But life had other plans. On December 28, 2018, I was taken from my apartment and accused of being a spy. The evidence was flimsy, the charges were baseless, and the treatment was inhumane. But I knew I was innocent, and I was determined to prove it.
The days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months. I was subjected to solitary confinement, interrogations, and what I can only describe as torture. The Lefortovo prison is notorious for its harsh conditions, and I was no exception. I was often left without electricity, heat, or running water. But even in the midst of this darkness, I found ways to cope. I exercised in my cell, wrote letters to my family, and formed bonds with my fellow prisoners.
One of the most challenging aspects of my time in prison was the isolation. I was separated from my family, my friends, and the life I knew. The thought of not being able to see my loved ones, to hold them, to tell them I loved them – it was a constant ache. But even in that isolation, I knew that I was not alone. I had my “family” – the other men who were wrongly accused with me.
Michael, Nadezhda, and uleimenko became more than just strangers; they became my brothers, my friends, and my confidants. We shared our stories, our fears, and our hopes. We supported each other, encouraged each other, and fought for each other. And together, we refused to give up.
The rest of my story is one of determination, perseverance, and the power of the human spirit. It is a story of the tireless efforts of my family, friends, and the organizations who fought for my freedom. It is a story of leaders who refused to give up, who refused to ignore the wrongs of a corrupt system. And it is a story of the kindness and generosity of strangers who became family.
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