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The prosecutor has requested 18 years in a strict regime penal colony for St Petersburg businessman and former police officer Konstantin Podoshvelev in a case concerning anti-war graffiti and correspondence with the “Freedom of Russia” Legion. This was reported by Mediazona.
SOTAvision writes that the prosecutor is also seeking a fine of 250,000 rubles (approximately US$2,750).
The St Petersburger is accused of damaging cultural heritage sites (part 1, article 243 of the Criminal Code), vandalism (part 2, article 214), and participating in the activities of a terrorist organisation (part 2, article 205.5).
Podoshvelev, aged 58, does not admit guilt. In court, he said that during a search of his home, law enforcement officers beat and tortured him, and threatened him with “torture, physical violence, harassment, and taking his family hostage.” They were seeking a confession, according to the St Petersburger. He also reported threats from Federal Penitentiary Service and Federal Security Service staff, which he received after his arrest.
According to the investigation, in 2023 Podoshvelev contacted a coordinator of the “Freedom of Russia” Legion by email in order to join the unit. In January 2024, he allegedly, following the coordinator’s instructions, put graffiti reading “Russian Orthodox Church ZA KILLERS” on the walls of two churches, and “POLYTECH ZA KILLERS” on a wall of the Polytechnic University.
During closing arguments, the prosecutor said investigators had documented Podoshvelev making phone calls to Ukraine and sending numerous email enquiries to Ukrainian security agencies asking about crossing the border. He had also filled in an application form to join the “Freedom of Russia” Legion.
Podoshvelev stated that he contacted Ukrainian state agencies to obtain information about his father and establish his family roots, as well as with Ruslan T.—the St Petersburger claims he believed this person to be a volunteer from Leningrad Oblast helping Russians with political emigration. The prosecution considers Ruslan T. to be a representative of the Legion. According to correspondence read out in court, Ruslan T. wrote to the St Petersburger: “I was told you want to join the Legion?,” to which Podoshvelev replied in the affirmative. In court, the former police officer said his interlocutor had used the word “Legion” ironically.
The St Petersburger was detained in February 2024. At the time, he was only charged under articles relating to vandalism and damage to cultural heritage sites. Podoshvelev was remanded in pre-trial detention, but in May 2024 his pre-trial restrictions were softened, and he was placed under house arrest instead.
A month later, in June, he was charged with a new offence—attempted participation in a terrorist organisation. After that, he was again placed in pre-trial detention. The charge was later changed to direct participation.
According to Podoshvelev, his son was bullied at school after his father’s arrest.