“Somewhat unexpectedly for myself, I celebrated my thirtieth birthday on August 2...

“Somewhat unexpectedly for myself, I celebrated my thirtieth birthday on August 2. This is already my third birthday in the pre-trial detention center, and the previous two were somewhat more memorable: in 2023, I celebrated this day in the Basmanny District Court, where the extension of the preventive measure was taking place; in 2024, it was on this day that the news came about a major exchange of prisoners that had taken place the day before, which was the best gift. This time everything went quietly and calmly. In the morning, my neighbor in the double cell congratulated me. In the evening, he and I arranged a kind of festive dinner using improvised materials. Even during the day, I traditionally found and read in the Old Testament about the acts of the prophet Elijah - after all, Elijah’s day (3 Kings 17-19, 4 Kings 1-2).
But the birthday echoes even after. On August 6, when we were once again taken to court, my colleagues presented me with a cake and cupcakes available in the prison store, and on August 11, after two weeks of silence, they finally brought me letters. For the third time, the third birthday in a row, I experience an incredible feeling when I receive a hefty stack of congratulations. I am sincerely grateful to everyone who writes and remembers. It's truly priceless.
Yours Vasya N., pre-trial detention center-1, St. Petersburg.”