Forwarded from DOXA
Yesterday, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the ‘Wagner PMC’ group, announced that the mercenaries had been targeted by the Russian military.
In response, the group set up a base in Rostov-on-Don and commenced the ‘march of justice’ towards Moscow. Essentially, the Wagner fighters orchestrated a military coup.
However, in less than 24 hours Prigozhin has seemingly changed his plans.
We have compiled the significant events of this day in English.
In response, the group set up a base in Rostov-on-Don and commenced the ‘march of justice’ towards Moscow. Essentially, the Wagner fighters orchestrated a military coup.
However, in less than 24 hours Prigozhin has seemingly changed his plans.
We have compiled the significant events of this day in English.
Forwarded from Зона солидарности
Solidarity zone often announces fundraisers to pay for lawyers' fees during the appeals process. Why is it important to appeal a sentence? Read these cards to find out. And support our fundraisers!
In Russian
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In Russian
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Forwarded from Зона солидарности
The Ukrainian Sergei Okrushko is being tortured in Russia
He is charged with sabotage at an oil processing plant
The Ukrainian Sergei Okrushko was arrested on 28 July while trying to leave Russia for Kazakhstan. The FSB suspected him of sabotage on an oil processing plant in Samara, where Sergei worked, and an explosion had occurred there on that day. The very next day a court sent Okrushko to a pre-trial detention centre.
During the court hearing on pre-trial detention measures, Sergei Okrushko said that he holds an anti-war position and had committed the act for political reasons.
The Kuybyshev oil processing plant where the blast occurred is the largest enterprise in the Samara district, processing around 7 million tonnes of oil per year. The plant specialises in the production of fuel for all kinds of means of transport, from automotive to maritime.
According to the investigation, the explosion cost more than 30 million roubles (€ 285 000). There were no casualties.
On 1 August the lawyer Zakhar Lebedev, working with "Solidarity Zone", visited Sergei Okrushko in the pre-trial detention centre and received consent to provide him with legal representation. However, on 3 August Sergei rejected his defence lawyer, while the latter drew attention to new serious bruises on the body of the suspect.
According to the lawyer Lebedev: "I asked Sergei to specify aloud in the presence of the investigator and the state-appointed lawyer, whether he indeed gives his consent for me to defend him, as indicated in the document that he had written himself in the pre-trial detention centre. In a voice that was almost trembling, Sergei quietly said that he wanted to use the lawyer he had previously [i.e., as appointed by the investigator], so as not to drag out the process".
The lawyer Lebedev asked for a written confirmation of his dismissal, and Okrushko wrote that he was withdrawing his earlier consent for legal representation.
"At the moment when Sergei sat writing this, I noticed that his left arm, across most of his shoulder and forearm, was purple: it was clear that these were serious bruises that had not been there on 1 August, when I visited him in the pre-trial detention centre. When I asked where he had got these bruises from, Sergei replied without thinking, 'In detention'. When I followed up by asking why he had not had them when I visited him in pre-trial detention, Sergei answered uncertainly that they had only just appeared."
On 7 August the lawyer Zakhar Lebedev tried to visit Sergei Okrushko in the pre-trial detention centre in Samara. However, the lawyer was refused entry to visit the accused. At first the staff referenced instructions from the investigator, and then they claimed that Orkushko was not in the pre-trial detention centre.
We are convinced that between 1 August and the following day, Sergei Okrushko was tortured in the pre-trial detention centre or in another place in order to make him turn down an independent lawyer. On 7 August, the lawyer was refused entry so that he could not document traces of torture. Alas, at this stage of proceedings, those responsible for these crimes have succeeded in their aim. However, we will be redoubling our efforts to provide Okrushko with proper legal defence and support.
We ask independent media outlets and human rights organisations to spread information about the case of Sergei Okrushko and the torture it is likely he is now undergoing. Publicity may help protect the prisoner.
✉️ Also you can help Sergei by writing:
Okrushko Sergei Aleksandrovich, DOB 1981
❓ If you have questions, email us to: solidarity_zone@riseup.net
#english
He is charged with sabotage at an oil processing plant
The Ukrainian Sergei Okrushko was arrested on 28 July while trying to leave Russia for Kazakhstan. The FSB suspected him of sabotage on an oil processing plant in Samara, where Sergei worked, and an explosion had occurred there on that day. The very next day a court sent Okrushko to a pre-trial detention centre.
During the court hearing on pre-trial detention measures, Sergei Okrushko said that he holds an anti-war position and had committed the act for political reasons.
The Kuybyshev oil processing plant where the blast occurred is the largest enterprise in the Samara district, processing around 7 million tonnes of oil per year. The plant specialises in the production of fuel for all kinds of means of transport, from automotive to maritime.
According to the investigation, the explosion cost more than 30 million roubles (€ 285 000). There were no casualties.
On 1 August the lawyer Zakhar Lebedev, working with "Solidarity Zone", visited Sergei Okrushko in the pre-trial detention centre and received consent to provide him with legal representation. However, on 3 August Sergei rejected his defence lawyer, while the latter drew attention to new serious bruises on the body of the suspect.
According to the lawyer Lebedev: "I asked Sergei to specify aloud in the presence of the investigator and the state-appointed lawyer, whether he indeed gives his consent for me to defend him, as indicated in the document that he had written himself in the pre-trial detention centre. In a voice that was almost trembling, Sergei quietly said that he wanted to use the lawyer he had previously [i.e., as appointed by the investigator], so as not to drag out the process".
The lawyer Lebedev asked for a written confirmation of his dismissal, and Okrushko wrote that he was withdrawing his earlier consent for legal representation.
"At the moment when Sergei sat writing this, I noticed that his left arm, across most of his shoulder and forearm, was purple: it was clear that these were serious bruises that had not been there on 1 August, when I visited him in the pre-trial detention centre. When I asked where he had got these bruises from, Sergei replied without thinking, 'In detention'. When I followed up by asking why he had not had them when I visited him in pre-trial detention, Sergei answered uncertainly that they had only just appeared."
On 7 August the lawyer Zakhar Lebedev tried to visit Sergei Okrushko in the pre-trial detention centre in Samara. However, the lawyer was refused entry to visit the accused. At first the staff referenced instructions from the investigator, and then they claimed that Orkushko was not in the pre-trial detention centre.
We are convinced that between 1 August and the following day, Sergei Okrushko was tortured in the pre-trial detention centre or in another place in order to make him turn down an independent lawyer. On 7 August, the lawyer was refused entry so that he could not document traces of torture. Alas, at this stage of proceedings, those responsible for these crimes have succeeded in their aim. However, we will be redoubling our efforts to provide Okrushko with proper legal defence and support.
We ask independent media outlets and human rights organisations to spread information about the case of Sergei Okrushko and the torture it is likely he is now undergoing. Publicity may help protect the prisoner.
✉️ Also you can help Sergei by writing:
443022, Samara, Sadovyi proezd, d. 22, SIZO-1,Okrushko Sergei Aleksandrovich, DOB 1981
❓ If you have questions, email us to: solidarity_zone@riseup.net
#english
