1. Home
  2. Articles
  3. Police search the Homes of Artists and Activists across Russia Days before the Election

Police search the Homes of Artists and Activists across Russia Days before the Election

Friday, March 15, 2024
Police search the Homes of Artists and Activists across Russia Days before the Election

On March 12, Russian Federal Security (FSB) agents and police officers raided the homes of artists and activists across the country. Many of the artists were subsequently taken in for questioning.

According to the human rights project Network Freedoms, the FSB’s interest may be linked to a treason case against Pyotr Verzilov, a Pussy Riot member and former Mediazona publisher, who says he’s joined the Ukrainian army. The human rights project Department One, however, thinks the Russian authorities are taking proactive measures as they’re afraid these “unpredictable” artists might make a scene during the country’s upcoming presidential elections.

FSB agents searched the homes of artists and activists in multiple cities across Russia on Tuesday, according to reports from independent publications and the human rights project Network Freedoms. Many of the artists were brought in for questioning and released. Human rights activists reported that some of the searches were authorized by Moscow’s Lefortovo court under the Russian Criminal Code article for high treason.
The human rights project Department One believes the searches are related to Russia’s upcoming presidential elections rather than to Verzilov’s case, as not all of the individuals targeted are connected to him or even know him. According to Department One, the Russian authorities consider activists and performers to be “unreliable elements” as their behavior “can’t be predicted.”
Main Image :Source Telegram