Izhevsk activist Dmitry Morozov sent to pretrial detention in a drug case

Izhevsk activist Dmitry Morozov sent to pretrial detention in a drug case

An Izhevsk court placed Morozov in custody for two months over possession of drugs on a large scale, RusNews reports.

In court, the prosecutor said that Morozov was allegedly connected to a “Ukrainian armed formation.”

What is known about Morozov’s case

▶️ On the evening of October 2, Morozov was detained when he went out to a store. The next morning, FSB officers searched his home. The activist’s father saw scratches on his son’s face and swollen hands. He suggested that Morozov’s hands had swollen because of the handcuffs in which he had spent the entire night.

▶️ During the search, security officers seized a computer. At first, people close to the activist were told that he was suspected of ties to a banned organization. Later it turned out that a criminal drug case had been opened against Morozov.

▶️ Security officers claim they found substances in a cabinet in Morozov’s room. His girlfriend Darya Bagina does not believe the drugs belonged to him. According to her, Morozov could face up to ten years in prison, but the specific Criminal Code article is unknown.

▶️ After the search, the activist was taken away again. Lawyers were not allowed to see him for more than a day. Only on the morning of October 4 was one of the defense lawyers able to get in to see Morozov.

▶️ Before today’s hearing, Morozov’s parents were taken to the police. The day before, Valery and Elena Tsarenko had been summoned for questioning at the district police department. The couple were planning to come with a lawyer, but police took them away earlier. The Tsarenkos were not given written summonses.

Who is Dmitry Morozov

Shortly before his detention, Morozov, together with other activists, had been seeking permission to hold a rally in Izhevsk against violations in the State Duma elections.

The mayor’s office refused to approve the event, after which the activists went to court. The court ordered city authorities to reconsider the application for the rally.

On October 4, Morozov’s supporters came with posters in his support to a Communist Party rally in Moscow and demanded the activist’s release. During the event, security officers detained about 60 people.

Photo: “Ostorozhno, Novosti”

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