The author of the “Protest MGU” Telegram channel was placed in a punishment cell (SHIZO) for attempting to drink water.

Dmitry Ivanov, author of the “Protest MSU” Telegram channel, has been placed in a punishment cell (SHIZO) for 15 days in Penal Colony No. 3 in Tambov Region, a city south-east of Moscow. This was reported by his support group.

The Federal Penitentiary Service staff considered an attempt to take a sip of water after lights-out to be a violation of the internal rules.

• In 2023, Ivanov was sentenced to 8.5 years in a penal colony on charges of spreading “fake news” about the Russian army (subparagraph “d,” paragraph 2, article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code) because of publications in the “Protest MSU” Telegram channel. The posts discussed Russian attacks on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and Ukrainian cities, losses of Russian aviation in the war, and tragedies in Bucha and Irpin; the security services were also displeased by a post in which the “special military operation” was called a war.
• Ivanov was detained and placed in a pre-trial detention centre in June 2022. He spoke about violations of his rights in detention: he was denied visits with his mother, some of his letters were destroyed, and after one court session he was beaten by an escort officer. He has also been placed in a punishment cell several times.