Sasha Skochilenko and Sofya Subbotina, two women who found themselves trapped under the heavy hand of Russian repression, have finally reunited in Germany, where they now plan to marry. In Russia, such a union was an impossibility, with the government’s strict laws and societal pressures stifling any semblance of freedom for LGBTQ+ individuals. But in Germany, they have found the liberty to live openly and love without fear.
Their journey has been fraught with challenges. Skochilenko, an artist and musician, was arrested in 2022 for her bold stand against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Her crime? Replacing price tags in a supermarket with anti-war messages. Her arrest led to a harrowing experience in pre-trial detention, where she was subjected to conditions that worsened her chronic health issues. Meanwhile, Subbotina fought tirelessly for her partner’s release while dealing with her own health battles, including a cancer diagnosis.
The couple’s relationship faced further strain as they were kept apart during Skochilenko’s imprisonment. Russia’s anti-LGBTQ+ stance meant that they had no legal status to claim the basic rights that other couples take for granted. Visits and phone calls were denied, leaving them isolated from each other during some of the darkest moments of their lives. But their love endured, even as the Russian state tried to break them.
In a surprising turn of events, Skochilenko was released as part of a historic prisoner exchange between Moscow and Washington. The couple reunited in Germany, where they are now free to marry and start anew. For Skochilenko and Subbotina, this is more than just a personal victory—it’s a triumph over the oppressive forces that sought to keep them apart. In the quiet city of Koblenz, they are planning their future together, far from the shadows of repression that once loomed so large over their lives.
Now, as they walk hand in hand through the streets of Germany, they embrace the freedom to love openly, a right denied to them in their homeland. Their story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of love, even in the face of relentless adversity. For Skochilenko, her relationship with Russia is over, but her new life, full of possibilities, is just beginning.
