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8/10/2025, 5:08:49 PM
Man Alleges Torture by Security Forces in Crimea Over Telegram Comment He Denies Writing
A Moscow man alleges he was tortured by security forces who broke into his home in Sevastopol on July 9, accusing him of writing a social media comment that supported an attack on police in Dagestan.
Alexei Rodin, 40, told the independent news project ASTRA that security officers forced their way into his home, demanding he confess to posting the comment on the Telegram messaging app. When he refused, he claims the officers beat him, twisted his limbs, and burned his toe with a lighter.
"I stated that I hadn't written anything," Rodin said. "This enraged the security forces."
Following the raid, Rodin was taken to an anti-extremism department and later fined 3,000 rubles (approx. $32 USD) by a court for disobeying police, not for the comment itself. No charges related to justifying terrorism were brought up during the hearing.
Rodin believes he was targeted due to previous convictions in Sevastopol for "discrediting the army" and for "displaying Nazi symbolism," which he states involved publishing pagan runes.
After traveling to Moscow on July 17, Rodin sought medical treatment for injuries including burns and what he claims is a fractured tailbone. He says the hospital's medical report noted the tailbone injury was from a "slip." Rodin has since filed a formal complaint against the security officers with Russia's Investigative Committee.
A Moscow man alleges he was tortured by security forces who broke into his home in Sevastopol on July 9, accusing him of writing a social media comment that supported an attack on police in Dagestan.
Alexei Rodin, 40, told the independent news project ASTRA that security officers forced their way into his home, demanding he confess to posting the comment on the Telegram messaging app. When he refused, he claims the officers beat him, twisted his limbs, and burned his toe with a lighter.
"I stated that I hadn't written anything," Rodin said. "This enraged the security forces."
Following the raid, Rodin was taken to an anti-extremism department and later fined 3,000 rubles (approx. $32 USD) by a court for disobeying police, not for the comment itself. No charges related to justifying terrorism were brought up during the hearing.
Rodin believes he was targeted due to previous convictions in Sevastopol for "discrediting the army" and for "displaying Nazi symbolism," which he states involved publishing pagan runes.
After traveling to Moscow on July 17, Rodin sought medical treatment for injuries including burns and what he claims is a fractured tailbone. He says the hospital's medical report noted the tailbone injury was from a "slip." Rodin has since filed a formal complaint against the security officers with Russia's Investigative Committee.
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