Bezmotivny – Dark Nights

Italy: Arrests and search operations between Pisa and the Apuan Alps in relation to the 2023 attack on the Pisa courthouse

Posted on 2025/09/16 by darknights

ARRESTS AND SEARCH OPERATIONS BETWEEN PISA AND THE APUAN ALPS IN RELATION TO THE 2023 ATTACK ON THE PISA COURTHOUSE (ITALY)

On the morning of 11 September, a police operation coordinated by the DDAA [District Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terrorism Directorate] in the main city of Tuscany and conducted by the DIGOS [General Investigations and Special Operations Division] in Pisa and Florence took place in the municipalities of Carrara, Montignoso, Pisa and Sarzana. The operation appears to have been named “Delivery”.

According to our information, two anarchist comrades who are subject to a preventive custody order under house arrest (it is not yet known if there are any particular restrictions; updates will follow) were arrested in Pisa and Carrara. The comrades – who were already searched on 26 March in relation to the same acts – are under investigation for “terrorist acts involving lethal or explosive devices” and other related crimes. This is part of the proceedings concerning the attack on the Pisa courthouse on 21 February 2023. We would also like to point out that the comrades were involved in the 2023 “Scripta Scelera” operation, which was orchestrated by the Genoa DDAA against the internationalist anarchist fortnightly journal “Bezmotivny” (and which was essentially “shipwrecked” during the trial held in Massa against four defendants).

According to the latest information, the other comrades involved in this operation were only searched at home and in their vehicles. This was also in relation to the crime of “subversive association with the purpose of terrorism or subversion of the democratic order”.

Every day, in every court, hundreds of exploited people are sentenced. By means of sentences, men and women are buried in prisons and their friendships and love relationships are mutilated. By means of explosives, structures will be hit and men of power will be mutilated. For every death at sea, in prison, at work, in the CPRs, not one, but 100 bombs against the masters. Your cameras and guards patrolling the city will never be enough to prevent action from penetrating your buildings”, read the statement of claim by Gruppo di Solidarietà Rivoluzionaria – Consegne a Domicilio [Revolutionary Solidarity Group – Home Deliveries] (joining the FAI-FRI), concerning the action against the court. This action was part of an intense mobilisation against 41 bis prison regime and life imprisonment without parole, and was carried out in solidarity with Alfredo Cospito, who was on hunger strike for over 120 days at the time. “Solidarity with all revolutionary prisoners around the world. Support social struggles with revolutionary struggle”, the text concluded.

ALONGSIDE THE ARRESTED COMRADES
A couple of those searched

UPDATE: The comrades are under house arrest with all restrictions (no communication or visits allowed).

Italy: Operation Scripta Scelera – absolution of the anarchists accused in the trial of Massa for the publication of ‘Bezmotivny’. An 8 month sentence for offense to the honour or prestige of the president of the republic

Posted on 2025/04/25 by darknights

OPERATION SCRIPTA SCELERA: ABSOLUTION OF THE ANARCHISTS ACCUSED IN THE TRIAL OF MASSA FOR THE PUBLICATION OF ‘BEZMOTIVNY’. AN 8 MONTH SENTENCE FOR OFFENSE TO THE HONOUR OR PRESTIGE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC (ITALY)

On April 8th, 2025, the sentence was pronounced in the ongoing trial in Massa against four anarchist comrades indicted for the publication of the internationalist anarchist fortnightly ‘Bezmotivny’ (repressive operation on August 8th, 2023). The defendants – who were involved in the operation together with six other comrades for whom the proceedings remained at the investigation stage – were charged with incitement to commit crimes and apologia of crimes and offences of terrorism (art. 414 of penal code, paragraphs 1, 3 and 4) with the aggravating circumstance of the purpose of terrorism (art. 270 bis 1, penal code), for the publication of the about sixty issues of ‘Bezmotivny’, and of offence to the honour or prestige of the president of the republic (art. 278, penal code), concerning a specific article (‘Soffiare sul fuoco’, published in ‘Bezmotivny’, year I, issue 17, October 25th, 2021).

All the defendants were acquitted of the charge of multiple aggravated incitement to commit crimes ‘because the fact does not exist’, whereas Luigi was sentenced to eight months, without the application of recidivism, for offending the honour or prestige of the president of the republic (the other three defendants were also acquitted of this charge ‘for not having committed the fact’). The request for compensation by the State attorney’s office was also denied.

At the end of the indictment held at the previous hearing on April 1st, public prosecutor Manotti of the DDAA (‘Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terrorism District Directorate’) of Genoa had requested 7 years’ imprisonment for Gino, 6 years for Luigi (with the revocation of the suspended sentence for a previous conviction imposed on him by the court of Ravenna) and 5 years and 6 months each for Gaia and Paolo, while the State attorney for the presidency of the council of ministers had requested compensation of half a million euro.

Massa, Italy: The Inquisition at work. Requested from 5 years 6 months to 7 years imprisonment for the accused in the Massa trial derived from the Operation Scripta Scelera

Posted on 2025/04/07 - 2025/04/07 by darknights

On Tuesday, April 1, one of the most relevant hearings in the trial involving four anarchists indicted in the operation Scripta Scelera for editing and distributing the internationalist anarchist fortnightly “Bezmotivny” was held in Massa. Starting at 12:00 noon in Palma Square there were microphone speeches and a leafleting, and from 3:00 p.m. there was a presence in the courtroom by the solidarity comrades present.

During the hearing, Public Prosecutor Manotti of the Genoa District Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terrorism Directorate delivered his indictment, and then set out the requests for conviction against the defendants in reference to both counts of the trial: incitement to commit crimes with the aggravating circumstance of the purpose of terrorism (as well as apology for terrorist crimes) and offense to the honor or prestige of the president of the republic. He did not, however, seek conviction on the aggravating circumstance of having committed the act through computer or telematic means.

These are the requests: 7 years in prison for Gino, 6 years for Luigi (with revocation of the suspended sentence for a previous conviction imposed on him by the Ravenna court), 5 years and 6 months each for Gaia and Paolo. A hearing with defense arguments and sentencing will be held on Tuesday, April 8, also at 3 p.m. in the court in De Gasperi Square.

Before making a few brief remarks, let us recall that this trial-excluding the associative crime initially charged-involves four of the defendants in the proceedings, those for whom this trial with immediate trial was precisely ordered in January 2024 and who were under restrictive house arrest at the time, while as for the other six defendants the proceedings remained in the investigation phase.

The repressive apparatus has long been forcibly trying to “stop” anarchists. With the prosecutions in recent years against certain newspapers we are basically being “reproached” for being what we are, and in particular with Scripta Scelera the state would like to strike at anarchist agitation and propaganda. The shameless willingness to dumb down revolutionary publications as well as to demonize actions of attack against the state and capitalism show the real consistency of the permissive face of the state and its “freedoms of expression” especially in times of war. Seven years in prison for the mere publication of a newspaper-the sixty or so issues of “Bezmotivny”-we understand to be the highest sentence demand ever made in a trial against anarchists in reference to what, objectively, are “crimes of opinion.” Anarchist ideas are evidently dangerous because they overflow with an urgency of life, because they exhort us not to spend our existence on our knees, because they speak of the will to radically overthrow this old world, because they suggest a method of struggle, because…

What else to say? The warning of the new inquisition headed by the anti-terrorist prosecutors’ offices and the prevention police is clear: when faced with the theoretical-practical combination of anarchism, it is either silence or condemnation. Yet if they think they are convincing us that the game is not worth the candle, they are sorely mistaken….

3 April 2025

ITALY: GATHERING IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE ANARCHISTS ACCUSED IN SCRIPTA SCELERA OPERATION – MASSA, APRIL 1, 2025

Posted on 2025/03/28 by darknights

[Update] Gathering in solidarity with the anarchists accused in Scripta Scelera operation postponed to April 1, 2025 (Massa, Italy)

Posted on 2025/02/17 by darknights

[UPDATE] We inform that during the hearing of February 14th, it was decided by the judge to postpone that one scheduled for the following 28th, for which a solidarity gathering had been called. The new hearing has been set for Tuesday, April 1st, the times remain unchanged.

GATHERING IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE ANARCHISTS ACCUSED IN SCRIPTA SCELERA OPERATION – MASSA, APRIL 1, 2025

August 8th, 2023. Following a request for ten arrests in prison, Scripta Scelera operation leads to nine precautionary measures against as many anarchists accused for the publication and distribution of the internationalist anarchist fortnightly ‘Bezmotivny’. A proceeding with which the State intended to ‘normalise’ the precautionary measures for charges concerning revolutionary publications. Scripta Scelera represents another ‘chapter’ in the war policies of the Italian state, in continuity among other things with recent repressive manoeuvres aimed at removing political practicability from ever wider social sectors.

April 1st, 2025. After just over a year, the trial against four accused comrades is coming to an end. Public prosecutor Manotti of the DDAA (“Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terrorism District Directorate”) of Genoa will deliver his indictment, with the requests for sentencing. Regardless of the prosecutor’s inquisitorial hypotheses on alleged instigatory and terrorist capabilities, the reasons that the State intends to strike are the ones of those who opposed the war also by denouncing the Italian industries involved in the production of armaments, as well as those who supported the 2022-’23 mobilisation against 41 bis prison regime and life imprisonment without the possibility of parole developed with Alfredo Cospito’s hunger strike.

WE WILL MEET ON TUESDAY, APRIL 1st, IN MASSA:
12:00 h. – SOLIDARITY GATHERING IN PIAZZA FELICE PALMA
15:00 h. – PRESENCE IN FRONT OF THE COURT IN PIAZZA DE GASPERI

* * *

We remind the account details for the solidarity fund and the e-mail address for organising benefit initiatives or receiving copies of the texts about Scripta Scelera operation:

Postepay card number: 5333 1711 9250 1035 – IBAN: IT12R3608105138290233690253 – Account holder: Ilaria Ferrario – For contacts: solidaliscriptascelera[at]paranoici[dot]org

Gathering in solidarity with the anarchists accused in Scripta Scelera operation (Massa, Italy, February 28, 2025) EN/IT

Posted on 2025/02/07 - 2025/02/07 by darknights

GATHERING IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE ANARCHISTS ACCUSED IN SCRIPTA SCELERA OPERATION – MASSA, FEBRUARY 28, 2025

poster pdf

August 8th, 2023. Following a request for ten arrests in prison, Scripta Scelera operation leads to nine precautionary measures against as many anarchists accused for the publication and distribution of the internationalist anarchist fortnightly ‘Bezmotivny’.

A proceeding with which the State intended to ‘normalise’ the precautionary measures for charges concerning revolutionary publications. Scripta Scelera represents another ‘chapter’ in the war policies of the Italian state, in continuity among other things with recent repressive manoeuvres aimed at removing political practicability from ever wider social sectors.

February 28th, 2025. After one year, the trial against four accused comrades is coming to an end. Public prosecutor Manotti of the DDAA (“Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terrorism District Directorate”) of Genoa will deliver his indictment, with the requests for sentencing. Regardless of the prosecutor’s inquisitorial hypotheses on alleged instigatory and terrorist capabilities, the reasons that the State intends to strike are the ones of those who opposed the war also by denouncing the Italian industries involved in the production of armaments, as well as those who supported the 2022-’23 mobilisation against 41 bis prison regime and life imprisonment without the possibility of parole developed with Alfredo Cospito’s hunger strike.

WE WILL MEET ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28th, IN MASSA:
12:00 h. – SOLIDARITY GATHERING IN PIAZZA FELICE PALMA
15:00 h. – PRESENCE IN FRONT OF THE COURT IN PIAZZA DE GASPERI

* * *

We remind the account details for the solidarity fund and the e-mail address for organising benefit initiatives or receiving copies of the texts about Scripta Scelera operation:

Postepay card number: 5333 1711 9250 1035 – IBAN: IT12R3608105138290233690253 – Account holder: Ilaria Ferrario – For contacts: solidaliscriptascelera[at]paranoici[dot]org Continue reading “Gathering in solidarity with the anarchists accused in Scripta Scelera operation (Massa, Italy, February 28, 2025) EN/IT” →

Italy: Statement of Alfredo Cospito during the preliminary hearing for the “Sibilla Trial”

Posted on 2025/01/29 by darknights

We publish the statements read by some of the anarchist comrades accused in the Sibilla trial in the preliminary hearing held on the 15^th of January in Perugia. Amongst the defendants, is also Alfredo Cospito, who attended by videoconference from Bancali prison in (Sardinia) where he is locked up in the 41bis regime, who read a statement. The hearing ended with a dismissal of all charges against all defendants, bringing to a conclusion an infamous case, which apart from aiming at the silencing of anarchist revolutionary publications, had a central role in Alfredo’s transfer to the 41bis regime. For a few hours Alfredo was able to hear the voices of his comrades, to see their faces, to speak, breaking the wall of silence in which they are trying to bury him. And this is certainly more stirring than any decision made by any state bureaucrat. In particular, Alfredo’s own words resonate as a powerful denunciation against the totalitarian horror of the 41bis regime. Those children’s handprints on the dividing glass in the visiting room should shake the consciences, of those who still have a conscience.

We do not know to what extent the intervention of the comrades in the courtroom somehow influenced the court’s decision not to venture into a shaky trial in itself. However, on January 15, it became clear that subsequent potential hearings would also undoubtedly provide an opportunity to intervene, breaking the wall of isolation of the 41bis, on behalf of Alfredo and the other accused comrades. Certainly, it should not take a trial like this one to initiate moments of mobilization against the international shame of 41 bis, and in Alfredo’s specific case, as of today the justifications for confinement in this special regime have one important piece missing. To make them pay the price for this contradiction, it is more urgent than ever to undertake other paths and revitalize initiatives against 41 bis and the warmongering and repressive policies of States.

Statement of Alfredo Cospito during the preliminary hearing for the “Sibilla Trial”

Today, you the representatives of the judiciary branch of this republic are putting us on trial for writing on the walls, for our words, for our books and magazines, forcing, as a matter of fact, anarchy into clandestinity. We are in good company, with this post-fascist government, censorship and repression are expanding to the entire social body, accelerating the transition from totalitarian democracy to a tragicomic opera regime. Saying this, I must thank you: after a year of silence, thanks to your embarrassing and anachronistic prosecution, I am allowed to express my thought publicly. Even if remotely, even if for the brief time of a blink of an eye, today I can tear off the gag, the medieval bridle of a 41bis that a moderate left-wing government applied to me years ago to silence an uncomfortable voice, for however minor and irrelevant, however surely an enemy of your democracy. These two years of special regime have most definitely opened my eyes to the true face of your law, of your constitutional rights, revealing to me a criminogenic system composed of an obscene, crude and murderous totalitarianism.

Today in this courtroom we are undergoing an inquisitorial trial based on an interview given through regular prison mail and not through a conversation with my sister in a prison visit as the prosecution wants us to believe, dragging her to the courthouse only for the mere fact of continuing undeterred to attend prison visits with her brother. It is a classic strategy of all authoritarian regimes, used regularly in the 41 bis regime, to burn all bridges with all emotional bonds at the exterior of the prison.

It is indicative, with every visit I attend, to see children’s handprints on the security glass that separates them from their fathers or mothers. But after all, what to expect from a democracy that puts children in prison? Continue reading “Italy: Statement of Alfredo Cospito during the preliminary hearing for the “Sibilla Trial”” →

Luigi Palli: Contribution to the Internationalist Days in Prague May 20-26, 2024

Posted on 2024/02/19 by darknights

Contribution to the Internationalist Days in Prague May 20-26, 2024

First of all, I want to congratulate and salute the comrades from Třídní Válka, for their commitment and perseverance. In these last two sad years of war they have been active, including and especially in contacting revolutionary groups abroad, something that – in my opinion – few in our latitudes have done.

That said, I must point out, alas, a couple of issues. I have been invited (as has the entire editorial staff of “Bezmotivny”) to the week of international action against the war, to be held in Prague between May 20 and 26, 2024. As editor of the internationalist anarchist fortnightly “Bezmotivny,” it is fair to say that I will not be able to attend. Or at least, between now and May is a long time, but I don’t think the provisions the Italian state has imposed on us will change.

In fact, on August 8, 2023, we were all subjected to precautionary measures on charges of subversive association for the purpose of terrorism, incitement to commit a crime with the aggravating factor of the purpose of terrorism, insulting the honor or prestige of the president of the republic, and clandestine printing, for having, over a period of three years, published incessantly every fortnight the newspaper “Bezmotivny.”

The operation conducted by the District Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terrorism Directorate of the city of Genoa involved ten anarchists for whom arrest in prison had been requested. Some still have an obligation to stay (with overnight return) in their city, others have hopped between jail and house arrest with all the restrictions (prohibition to communicate with anyone, under penalty of jail). Currently there are four of us on house arrest, five on mandatory residence, and one at large. The whole repressive operation revolves around “our” newspaper, they do not accuse us of specific facts except precisely the editing, printing and distribution of “Bezmotivny.”

It seems important to me to say all this, because the repression operating in Italy (not only the one we were involved in, but during 2023 it affected many anarchists all over Italy) is fully part of the policies of war moved by this rotten country.

I don’t want to complain about this at all, I think it is normal and deeply consistent on the part of a state to arrest any revolutionary voice, so in truth I’m fine with the way it works, rather than the fringe pretense of democratic spaces I prefer the real struggle. Rather than dissenting games good only for political stands, I prefer confrontation. Continue reading “Luigi Palli: Contribution to the Internationalist Days in Prague May 20-26, 2024” →

Italy: ‘In the sunlight’ Luigi Palli

Posted on 2024/02/11 - 2024/02/11 by darknights

Carlo Carrà, The Funeral of the Anarchist Galli, 1910-1911 (oil on canvas, 198.7×259.1 cm, currently at the Museum of Modern Art, New York).

In the sunlight

I had thought, clumsily, that this would go on for less time. Yet, given the stubbornness with which the state wants to silence us (and quickly condemn us), I decided to take the floor again. Which is wise or not matters little. Then again, hard to say whether giving up (whether by compulsion or not) any interaction with one’s affections and struggle is wise.

Sure, there are many ploys that are surely smarter than a signed first and last name black on white. But there is one thing I can’t stop thinking is right: putting your face to it. Yes, this small but profound issue for me is very much linked to what have been (and will be) all the publishing projects or stirring moments that have involved me over the years.

It is what I have always, personally, ardently supported. To say loud and clear that I support and agree with direct action, making explicit what I think is the most congenial method of achieving the zeroing out of the “values” of bourgeois society. The insurrectional method. The attack on men and structures of the state and Capitalism.

Here, I don’t believe there are anarchists who are afraid to say these things. I think it is the essence of the revolutionary himself this obstinacy, this constant quest, to spread and bring out ideas, to create or sustain dimensions of social confrontation.

The attempt to define us as a clandestine and terrorist organization fails not so much in the actual facts, such as our membership in an extremely public anarchist circle, or for editing a newspaper that was distributed not certainly (and perhaps unfortunately) in secrecy in the locker rooms of some factory, but fails and is demolished by the simple fact that anarchists, revolutionaries all in general, spread ideas in the light of day.

We are not a sect of little boys who tell themselves about it, we are proletarians and with other proletarians we interact, spreading the ideas that seem most congenial to us for human liberation.

Depriving us of the availability, then of our books and our venues (which, moreover, are expressly and insistently OPEN to everyone except cops and bosses), would lock us into a vortex of total isolation aimed at a forced “hiding” unable then to operate effectively, alienating anarchism in the eyes of the exploited. Which, in my opinion, we have seen happen and intensify over the past two decades. Dangerous, then, closure. Continue reading “Italy: ‘In the sunlight’ Luigi Palli” →

Italy: Solidarity presence on the occasion of the appeal trial for Operation Diamante and presentation of the special issue of “Bezmotivny” (Genoa, Feb. 14, 2024) + Some considerations from the trial against Gianluca and Evelin

Posted on 2024/02/05 - 2024/02/05 by darknights

Solidarity presence on the occasion of the appeal trial for Operation Diamante and presentation of the special issue of “Bezmotivny” (Genoa, Feb. 14, 2024) + Some considerations from the trial against Gianluca and Evelin

Solidarity presence at the appeal trial for Operation Diamante and presentation of the special issue of “Bezmotivny”

Genoa, Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Solidarity presence: 8:30 a.m., in front of the Genoa Court, Portoria Square.

On Feb. 14, the appeal hearing of the trial involving defendant anarchist comrade Gianluca, arrested in March 2022 and still under house arrest with all restrictions, will be held.

The first-instance trial had ended on July 5, 2023 with an acquittal for the comrade indicted in the same case and a sentence for Gianluca to four years and six months in prison (plus 15,000 euros fine) for “illegal possession of explosives” (Articles 1 and 2 of Law 895/67) and “attempted crime” (Article 56 c. p.).

Solidarity with the imprisoned and indicted comrades!

Debate: 5:30 p.m., at the documentation space ” Il Grimaldello,” Via della Maddalena 81/R.

Operation Scripta Manent (2016) and the subsequent trial (2017-’22) also involved 13 convictions for the publication of the latest edition of ” Croce Nera Anarchica ” and the management of some websites. Similarly, a number of subsequent operations involved revolutionary publications: operation Sibila (2021), aimed particularly against “Vetriolo,” and the more recent Scripta Scelera (2023), aimed at “dismantling” the fortnightly “Bezmotivny.” Beginning with the publication of the special issue of “Bezmotivny,” we discuss the reasons for these proceedings: the war policies of the Italian state, the warning it intends to give to the revolutionary movement, and the need for the state to strike at the theoretical-practical combination of anarchism.

To follow: aperitif benefit prisoners.

https://spazio-di-documentazione-il-grimaldello.noblogs.org/ – grimaldello@canaglie.org

PDF: Solidarity presence at the appeal trial for Operation Diamante and presentation of the special issue of “Bezmotivny” (in Italian)
Continue reading “Italy: Solidarity presence on the occasion of the appeal trial for Operation Diamante and presentation of the special issue of “Bezmotivny” (Genoa, Feb. 14, 2024) + Some considerations from the trial against Gianluca and Evelin” →