Russia: Event in Moscow
The convicted "recruiter" of prisoners into the Armed Forces of Ukraine was offered to persuade cellmates to sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense. A SIZO-4 "Medved" employee promised the political prisoner Nikita Afanasyev access to the gym if he convinced his cellmates to sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense and go to war in Ukraine. This was reported to "Vot Tak" by the convicted person's support group. Details. In his letter dated October 1, Afanasyev said that last week he was summoned by an operative employee of the SIZO. He offered him to recruit three cellmates for the "special military operation" in exchange for access to the gym. The political prisoner refused this offer and was not allowed to visit the gym. According to Afanasyev, similar offers were made not only to him - those held in the same detention center, referred to as "blatnye" (a criminal hierarchy term), are recruiting other prisoners for the war in exchange for privileges from the administration. He did not specify what these were. In addition, he stated that at SIZO-4, convicted individuals for terrorism and treason have also begun to be recruited for the war. However, this is prohibited by law. Who is this. Nikita Afanasyev is the first Russian convicted for military service on the side of Ukraine. In July 2014, he left his native Transbaikal region for Ukraine and joined the "Saint Maria" battalion. After being wounded, he transferred to "Right Sector," but he did not participate in combat operations, remaining at the training base. Later, Afanasyev returned to his homeland to meet with relatives. In December 2015, he was detained by FSB officers. Security forces tortured him with electricity and suffocated him with a bag, trying to recruit him as a spy in Ukraine. After refusal, he was charged with attempted murder, illegal possession of explosives, and other articles. In May 2017, Afanasyev was sentenced to 12 years in a penal colony; the term was later reduced to nine years. There, he was repeatedly placed in the punishment cell and psychiatric department in an attempt to recruit him as a spy again. Shortly before the end of his term, a new criminal case was initiated against Afanasyev - for recruiting prisoners into the Ukrainian army. In February 2026, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison, later reduced to 24.5 years. "Memorial" recognized him as a political prisoner.
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This event was reported on rssby @Novaya Gazeta Europe. The summary above is an automated, neutral description; always consult the original report before relying on it.
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