That wasn’t an option in their native Russia, but it’s possible now that they live in Germany, which recognizes same-sex weddings. Subbotina campaigned for her partner’s release while also trying to make her life behind bars as tolerable as possible. Now, “I feel that I’m in a really free country,” Subbotina said, as they make plans for a life together in the quiet city of Koblenz in western Germany. The next day, Skochilenko was finally able to embrace Subbotina, who flew to Germany when she heard the news. Freed Russian artist Sasha Skochilenko shows a painting she made of herself in Koblenz, Germany.

---

Persons: Sasha Skochilenko, ” Skochilenko, Subbotina, ” Subbotina, Skochilenko, “, ”, —, “ We’ve, Vladimir Putin’s, ‘ Sonya, I’m, ‘, Andrei Pivovarov, Olaf Scholz, Freed, Michael Probst, ” They’ve, Sasha Organizations: Associated Press, Church, Russian Locations: Russia, Germany, East, Ukraine, Koblenz, St . Petersburg, Skochilenko, “, Moscow, Moscow’s, Ankara, Turkey, Freed Russian