Human rights advocate Elena Efros has decided to shut down her "Tales for Political Prisoners" initiative following new legislation targeting "extremist" organizations. She shared this announcement via Facebook.
The decision comes after Russia's State Duma passed a law allowing groups to be labeled "extremist" if any member faces conviction under related charges. Efros explained that her private online community includes approximately 4,000 participants, making it impossible to ensure none could be implicated in extremism cases. To prevent potential legal consequences, she chose to terminate the project.
"I'm acting out of fear - for myself and others. You may judge me for this," Efros wrote. "Our group operated for nearly a decade, helping pioneer the now-popular practice of writing to political detainees. We were among the first, and I'm deeply grateful to all involved."
Launched in 2015, the project coordinated volunteers who composed fairy tales for Russian inmates perceived as victims of unjust prosecution with potential political motivations behind their cases.
Efros, a journalist and human rights defender, is the mother of filmmaker Yevgeniya Berkovich, currently imprisoned on charges of "terrorism justification."