I’m your new Ded Moroz (the Russian equivalent of Santa Claus). Well, why not? I’ve got a sheepskin coat, an ushanka hat, and soon they’ll give me valenki (traditional felt boots). After 20 days in transit between detention facilities, I’ve grown a beard. True, there are no reindeer, but there are enormous, fluffy, very beautiful shepherd dogs. And most importantly, I now live above the Arctic Circle. In the settlement of Kharp in Yamal. The nearest town has the beautiful name Labytnangi. I don’t say, “Ho-ho-ho,” but instead, “Oh-oh-oh,” when I look out the window, where first it’s night, then evening, then night again. The 20 days in transit were fairly exhausting, but my spirits are still excellent, as befits Ded Moroz. They brought me here on Saturday evening. And they transported me with such precautions and along such a strange route (Vladimir - Moscow - Chelyabinsk - Yekaterinburg - Kirov - Vorkuta - Kharp) that I didn’t expect anyone would find me here before mid-January. So I was very surprised when yesterday the cell door opened with the words: “Your lawyer is here.” He said that you had lost track of me, and that some of you were even worried. Thank you all so much for your support! I can’t entertain you with stories of polar exoticism just yet, because I haven’t seen anything except the cell. And from the cell window, all you can see is a fence standing right up against it. I did go out for a walk, though. The exercise yard is the neighboring cell, just a little bigger, with snow on the floor. And I saw the escort guards too—not like in central Russia, but like in the movies: with automatic rifles, warm mittens, and felt boots. Alongside those same beautiful fluffy shepherd dogs. So, all in all, don’t worry about me. I’m fine. I’m terribly glad that I finally made it here. Once again, thank you all for your support. Happy upcoming holidays! Since I’m Ded Moroz, you’re probably wondering about presents. But I’m still a maximum-security Ded Moroz, so only those who have behaved very badly will be getting gifts 😉