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Protest against the demolition of a historic building in St Petersburg
On 8 January in St Petersburg, 16 participants in a protest against the demolition of the former All-Union Scientific Research Institute of the Paper Industry (VNIIB) building were detained. Most of those detained had protocols drawn up against them for organising a mass gathering of citizens in a public place (article 20.2.2 of the Administrative Offences Code). Two were accused of petty hooliganism (article 20.1 of the Administrative Offences Code). The next day, a court fined them 15,000 roubles each (about US$165) or sentenced them to between one and eight days’ arrest. Heritage activist Anton Glukhov has had a criminal case opened against him for hooliganism (article 213 of the Criminal Code) after he used a pepper spray canister on a security guard.
Exchange involving French political scientist Laurent Vinatier
On 8 January, political scientist Laurent Vinatier, who was convicted in Russia, was handed over to France in exchange for basketball player Daniil Kasatkin, who had been arrested at the request of the US. Vinatier had been sentenced to three years in a penal colony under an article on collecting military data without registering as a “foreign agent” (part 3 of article 330.1 of the Criminal Code), and was later also accused of espionage (article 276 of the Criminal Code). Memorial has recognised Vinatier as a political prisoner.
Security forces raid punk concert in Moscow
On 6 January in Moscow, security forces disrupted the Harvest Fest concert, which featured hardcore punk and metal bands. Audience members were forced to lie face down on the floor and hand over their documents and phones. The security forces looked for subscriptions to “undesirable organisations’” channels, and subscribers to anti-war channels were offered contracts for military service. Several people were beaten because they were subscribed to Ukrainian channels, according to a source for IStories. A REN TV correspondent was detained while filming outside the bar and was subsequently beaten and tasered.
Threats to journalist from participant in war in Ukraine
On 1 January, journalist Alexey Seryogin from Mari El, a region in central Russia, reported threats from a soldier after congratulating his fiancée on New Year with a comment marked “foreign agent.” Andrei Belytyukov, a participant in the war in Ukraine, spent several days threatening Seryogin in private messages and comments with physical violence and persecution by the authorities, constantly drawing attention to his “foreign agent” status. He also stated that he had reported him to the “Ministry of Defence security service.”
Security forces visit theatre performance with nude actors
On 5 January, security forces came to a Moscow bar during a performance of “Not-a-Children’s New Year Tree 6,” which featured nude actors. REN TV claimed that the organisers had been accused of petty hooliganism. However, the theatre that produced the performance insists no charges have been brought against them. According to the theatre, the security forces visited following a report from a “radical organisation.”