A case of treason has been opened against the founder of the “Revolt Centre” cultural space in Syktyvkar, a city in northern Russia.

The FSB has launched a criminal case on charges of treason (Article 275 of the Criminal Code) against Pavel Andreyev, founder of the independent cultural space “Revolt Centre” in Syktyvkar, a city in northern Russia. This was reported by TASS, citing the press service of the FSB directorate for the Komi Republic.

According to security officials, since 2019 he has allegedly assisted representatives of foreign intelligence services for payment in activities directed against the security of the Russian Federation.

The FSB claims: “Over a lengthy period, Andreyev maintained covert contacts with representatives of NATO countries as well as organisations used by foreign intelligence services as cover for conducting intelligence and subversive activities on Russian territory,” without specifying the nature of these activities.

The agency also stated that investigative and operational measures were conducted in 12 regions as part of this case to “strengthen the evidence base, to identify other instances of unlawful activity by the suspect and persons involved.”

Earlier today, reports emerged of searches and detentions targeting journalists and human rights defenders in Karelia, Mari El, Irkutsk and Kaliningrad regions. This morning, the “Revolt Centre” itself and its staff were also searched.

In June, pro-government media began reporting that the “Revolt Centre” had received funding from the British organisation Article 19, which has been declared “undesirable” in Russia, and from the German Goethe Cultural Centre at the German Consulate General in St Petersburg.

• Andreyev founded the “Revolt Centre” in 2019. The space was named after Soviet mathematician and dissident Revolt Pimenov, who was persecuted for his political views and exiled to Komi in 1971; in the late 1980s he led the Syktyvkar Memorial Society. The centre hosted exhibitions, festivals, lectures, book fairs and other cultural events.
• From 2010 to 2022, Andreyev was executive director of the publication “7×7.” In June 2022, he announced his departure from the publication—a new team took over its management.