Network Case defendant Ilya Shakursky is being held in a punishment cell (SHIZO).

Ilya Shakursky, a defendant in the “Network” case, was transferred to Penal Colony No. 4 in Penza, a regional centre about 550 kilometres southeast of Moscow, on 28 October, but has already been sent to the punishment cell twice. His mother informed OVD-Info of this.

The first time, he was placed in isolation on 29 October for seven days, and the second time on 5 November for 14 days. His mother believes the real reason for the pressure is his statements in 2018 about being tortured.

“He doesn’t have access to phone calls now, he can’t buy anything from the prison shop, I’m not allowed to send him parcels. As if giving him 16 years wasn’t enough, now they also want to deprive him of his health and contact with family,” his mother said. She is worried that these reprimands may affect how he serves the rest of his sentence. Previously, Shakursky was held in a colony in Mordovia.

In February 2020, the Penza defendants in the “Network” case were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 to 18 years. Shakursky received a 16-year sentence in a high-security colony under the article on organising the activities of a terrorist community (Part 1, Article 205.4 of the Criminal Code).

The criminal investigation against the young people was opened in October 2017. According to the FSB, 11 people from Penza and St Petersburg organised the “Network” terrorist community and were preparing to overthrow the Government.

• Defendants in the case, including Ilya Shakursky, reported psychological pressure, torture with electric shocks, beatings, and weapons being planted on them. Some of them later withdrew their confessions, which they had made in the first days after their arrest. OVD-Info has given detailed coverage about each defendant in the case.