Georgy Borovikov sentenced to 7 and a half years of imprisonment

On 27 June 2014 the Presnensky district court in Moscow took its decision against Georgy Borovikov,the leader of the RFO Memory (Pamiat’), former leader of the “Russians” (Russkie) movement and the head of the organization's “court of honor”.

Borovikov, along with his two “companions”, was arrested more than a year ago, on 11 April 2013, and the case was brought to court in March 2014. He was accused of having participated in the “honor trial” against one of his companions, which consisted in abducting and torturing him during several days.

The facts date back to June 2012: Borovikov and the victim, Artyom Tomsky from Ulan-Ude, met at “Occupy Abay” opposition camp where both served at the camp’s militia. One day, Borovikov's companions accused Tomsky of a theft. They thus attacked the young man at his front door and started beating him up. Hearing the cries, Borovikov ran out of the house and suggested to move the “honor trial” into his own apartment, in order not to attract public attention.

The “trial” lasted five days. According to media reports, the victim was beaten, whipped, and burned with a hot knife. Borovikov and his companions then tried to rape him. The scene was recorded on video. According to investigators, that video was even broadcasted on Youtube so as to “intimidate the enemy”, but was removed after a short while. The victim's documents and money were also taken away from him so the perpetrators were initially arrested for “robbery committed by a group of persons with the use of violence”.

The victim managed to escape and came up to the police with a report in March 2013. His passport, as well as all the objects used for the crime, were found at Borovikov's apartment during a search led by the police.

Borovikov has been sentenced to seven and a half years of imprisonment; his companion Maxim Barbashov, to seven years of imprisonment; Andrey Shishkanov, to four years of imprisonment; and Maria Dementyeva, to three years of imprisonment, in a penal colony.

The charges against them include threats of murder or infliction of grave bodily harm (Article 119 of the Criminal Code); theft of passport or other important personal documents (Article 325); torture committed by the group of persons with preliminary conspiracy (Article 117); illegal deprivation of liberty committed by a group of persons with preliminary conspiracy, with the use of violence and of weapons or objects used as weapons (Article 127); and robbery committed by a group of persons with preliminary conspiracy and with the use of violence and of weapons or objects used as weapons (Article 161).

According to a source from law enforcement authorities, the crimes against Artyom Tomsky were not the first such “honor trial” in which Borovikov was involved. His companion Andrey Shishkanov, a former police officer, was also already known of the courts. In August 2012, Borovikov met Oleg Nikitenko, the leader of the “Russians” Kursk section, at a rally. They went together to Shishkanov's place, where they started discussing who of them was “the greater national-socialist”. The discussion turned into a fight during which Nikitenko was severely beaten. Shishkanov thus suggested to simulate an accident, and hung Nikitenko by his hands to the balcony. As a result, Nikitenko crashed on the ground and died. In March 2013, Shishkanov was sentenced under Article 110 of the Criminal Code (incitement to suicide) to 6 months of hard labor and a fine. Borovikov himself escaped the prosecution in that case.

Borovikov is mostly famous for having been the leader of “The Russians” Moscow section, but he was expelled from the organization following these events and replaced with Anton Severny.