"I spent a couple of months trying to understand what the situation with political prisoners reminded me of from the inside, and I finally realized. Autists. Sorry: people with autism. And people with political charges. Very similar situation, in my opinion.
No, not in the sense that the latter multiply multi-digit numbers in their heads, are all geniuses, stare exclusively at walls and are about to deliver an oratorio. But in the sense that the former don't do that either, but everyone sees them that way! Take the mother of a severely non-verbal autistic child, tell her: "Oh, I know, it's like 'Rain Man!'", and watch her reaction. Or not a mother, just a specialist in special people. Unless it's Pavlovich. Pavlovich is an angel, he doesn't count, and he won't run up the wall in anger. All other specialists know: not all are geniuses. Oh, not all.
So, in short, political prisoners too... ummm... are not always beautiful, fashionable, strong, and interesting people. I don't claim to have a comprehensive sample, but I have some observations. Often these are completely unbearable people. For example, because the inability to shut up and filter their speech remains the same in all situations. And when a person writes on social media what gets them imprisoned later. And when already imprisoned, 40 fellow inmates hang themselves because... well, they don't filter! And some don't even understand why they were imprisoned, and they were imprisoned because they were the easiest to imprison, and it's easiest to imprison someone without serious social connections, or someone who annoyed neighbors and the local officer, or just the most spineless, or the most "annoying" in the group, who gets reported out of accumulated irritation.
And some, on the contrary, are adrenaline junkies and adventurers who got into all sorts of dangerous situations and ended up there. And some are terrible idiots, clinically foolish, caught in lousy provocations... (By the way, all this fully applies to completely different categories of prisoners, not just "political"). And there are also many people who are scared to death, who don't want anything, don't intend to fight for anything, shy away from any publicity, ready to admit and sign a lot. And there are simply mentally ill people, very sick, I've already seen three, and that's just one detention center + rare "external" data that can be trusted. All of them are victims.
Corresponding with them is often not a joy at all (I'm talking about prisoners now), they have depression, anxiety, whining, and with some, it's just unclear what to talk about. And to the direct question of whether they need food or other things, most are embarrassed to answer affirmatively. People are ashamed to ask strangers, especially when it comes to the simplest things, like soap or cutlets, or, on the contrary, "indulgences" like cosmetics or cake. I would be ashamed too (but I've already learned, hehe!). I'm good at begging!
So, I bring you a couple of ideas to support prisoners who are "not media-friendly", unfamiliar, and unclear. Not stars.
First. Send a trial small package, warning in a letter that it has been sent: some sweets, a cool notebook, warm socks, cigarettes, tea/coffee, cream/lip balm/soap with a nice scent, a shopper, a plastic mug/water bottle, dried fruits, nuts, cookies, pens/pencils, a book of your choice (not about the GULAG!), a cute lunchbox, mittens, a notepad, unsweetened snacks... Not all of this, of course, 4-5 items to try. (I understand more about girls and detention centers. Colonies have their own rules, men may have their own tastes — there are chats, forums, and former prisoners on the outside who can handle this). Cigarettes for non-smokers too!
Second. Buy something from the workshops "Anton is nearby", "Simple things", "Life path" — where people with special needs work. Firstly, what a beautiful action, don't you agree! Secondly, they sell amazing things there, I personally love them. Thirdly, you'll help both groups at once! The inconvenient. The strange. That's it."
*Included in the registry of "terrorists and extremists".