Vasilii Pavlov

A resident of Belgorod, a postgraduate student at the Journalism Department of Belgorod State University. On 8 December 2023, he was detained. According to the criminal case, before that he had placed leaflets of the Freedom of Russia Legion in the mailboxes of one of the houses in Belgorod. However, after searching Pavlov's apartment, he was detained as part of an administrative case. The report stated that he was found in a state of drug intoxication in the village of Dubovoye 15 kilometers from the city, but he refused to undergo a medical examination. On 9 December, the court arrested him for 12 days under Article 20.20 of the Code of Administrative Offences. Later, Pavlov told the court that he had been in the custody of the FSS officers since 8 December and had been subjected to torture and pressure. On 22 December 2023, he was remanded in custody on a criminal case of participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation. His relatives said that there were visible signs of violence, bruises and abrasions on his face and hands. The project "Political Prisoners Support. Memorial" claims that the charge of high treason only appeared in the case in November 2024. The case went to court that same month. On 10 December 2024, Pavlov was sentenced to 16 years in a strict regime colony.

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