Two criminal cases have been opened against an activist from Votkinsk, a city in Udmurtia, following complaints by the mayor and his daughter.

Activist Ivan Merezhnikov from Votkinsk, a city in Udmurtia (a region in the Volga area of Russia), is being prosecuted in criminal cases initiated following complaints from Mayor Alexey Zametaev and his daughter Maria. This was reported by “7×7.”

The first case against Merezhnikov was initiated in June under the article on the unlawful use of personal data (Article 272.1 of the Criminal Code). Maria Zametaeva complained that in May 2023 the activist had posted information about her on his Telegram channel, including her full name, date of birth and vehicle VIN. At that time, the court placed Merezhnikov under house arrest.

The opening of a second case, under the article on defamation (Article 128.1 of the Criminal Code), became known on 8 August. The prosecution was based on a statement by the mayor of Votkinsk. The exact charges against the activist are unknown. The court kept Ivan Merezhnikov under house arrest until 11 September, though the investigator had insisted on placing him in pretrial detention.

At the same hearing, it emerged that the FSB had wiretapped the activist’s calls for six months, looking for evidence of “extremism.”

• In 2022, Ivan Merezhnikov published an investigation into the illegal construction of an oil waste storage site near the Votkinsk pond. Following the publicity, the authorities stopped the construction. In his spare time from activism, Merezhnikov worked as an electrician.
• In several cities across Udmurtia—Votkinsk, Chaikovsky (a city in Udmurtia), Izhevsk (the capital of Udmurtia)—activists demonstrated in support of Merezhnikov, demanding an end to his criminal prosecution.