Aliens among their own

Behind bars in the "DPR" today are hundreds of Russian citizens

Alexei came to Donetsk as a volunteer in the summer of 2014. Demobilized from the Russian Airborne Forces and having seen enough of the TV, he wanted to defend the “Russian world” from the “fascists”. He served in several divisions, and after the Debaltsevo operation of 2015 he and two other Russians were detained by employees of the DPR MGB.

“They beat only during the detention,” says Alexei. - And the colleague who tried to bind was shot. They took it to some basement. The conditions were normal - on the floor rugs, mattresses. They presented the usual “bouquet” - the illegal turnover of the weapon and the “squeeze” of the property. It turned out that while we were frozen in the trenches, a decree was issued: all weapons are on official registration. On the first day after the detention, they offered to “solve in a friendly manner”-for 100 thousand rubles. I did not have such an amount. Yes, and did not believe that everything was serious. I thought that they would figure it out and let me go further. ”

A few months later, Alexey realized that he was mistaken. But then the price tag for exemption has already grown to a million. Now, they say, for a “friendly decision” they require from 50 thousand dollars.

“At the scum, who really marazized or traded weapons, there was money in order to pay off,” continues Alexei. - So in the end they sat ideological, who did not make anything. Moreover, in the "DPR" the situation is worse than in the "LPR". There at least they held an amnesty for the militias. ”

True, according to other sources, in the "LPR", most of the undesirable people simply cleaned up.

Some volunteers were “closed” for the wrong time in the wrong place, crossed the road to one of the local bosses or became unnecessary witnesses. For example, in 2014, at the official instructions of the MGB, the platoon of the colleagues of Alexei was sent to the bank to withdraw the values ​​there.

On the spot it turned out that several tens of millions of hryvnias are stored in the cells. Then this cash disappeared somewhere. And everyone who was aware of the situation was thrown "on the pit."

Alexei had to persuade relatives to find the right amount. As a result, it was possible to collect 800 thousand rubles. The ransom in Rostov was handed over to the intermediary allegedly for the services of a lawyer. But there was another condition:

“Before going out, I“ admitted ”to the camera in all possible“ crimes ”, including what I don’t want to talk about,” our interlocutor recalls. - I was immediately warned that if I try to “download”, all this will not only get into the network, but will also become a reason for criminal prosecution in Russia. They took me to the border with other boys. One sapper said that he was released on the terms that he would "wash away with blood." I was surprised - why then they are taken to the border with the Russian Federation, and not towards the front. It turned out that Wagner's company in Syria should become a penal battalion for him. ”

For which they fought ...

The exact number of citizens of the Russian Federation, held today in captivity in the "DPR", no one can name. According to one of the officers of the republic, who asked not to name his name, more than 480 Russians were officially arrested in four years. There were even such fantastic accusations as espionage in favor of Russia. Now about 150 people are left in the pre -trial detention center. The fate of the rest is unknown.

“Under the international laws of any militia, you can recognize the criminal,” the officer of the DPR building argues. - From spring to autumn 2014, we had a complete chaos, field commanders requisitioned the needs of the front, and often for themselves any attracted cars and other property. In the best case, they gave the receipts drawn on the knee. The battalion commander has imposed a tribute to all commercial structures in the territory controlled by them - from stalls and hairdressers to mines and metallurgical plants. Hundreds of thousands of refugees left, leaving houses and apartments. Russian militias settled there, who had to live somewhere. There was a complete mess with weapons. They sold and bought even an infantry fighting vehicle. Many, especially those who were at the front, are used to the freemen. And when they began to “nim” them, they were surprised. But then a graze in the other direction went: it is impossible to judge those who fought according to the laws of peacetime! ”

The Russian publicist Roman Manekin, who moved to Donetsk in March 2014 and himself twice became a victim of abductions, says that in the fall of last year he had a list of 300 citizens of the Russian Federation contained in local pre -trial detention centers.

“The list was only called,” says Manekin. - And therefore I cannot say that the total number of prisoners is exactly three hundred. If we talk about the accusations, in the most difficult cases, it was about the murders of civilians. The Criminal Code "DPR" in such cases provides for the death penalty. As for the accused of “DPR” in difficult articles, then, as a rule, none of them pleads guilty. ”

Manekin also explains that Russians in Donetsk prisons and colonies are especially difficult. After all, most locals convey the parcels from the will, which in the terrifying conditions of correctional institutions helps to survive. There are cases when bloody conflicts between the militias and “thieves” and “thieves in law” sitting in the pre -trial detention center, sitting since Ukrainian times, flashed in a pre -trial detention center.

"Washed to the toilet"

It is interesting that the investigation of the unrecognized republic is based during office work both on the Criminal Code of the DPR, which is a hybrid of the Russian and Ukrainian Criminal Code, and on other regulatory acts, up to the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Ukrainian SSR of the 60s of the last century.

For 30 days, any person can be arrested on the basis of a decree signed by Alexander Zakharchenko in August 2014. At the same time, in fact, people can sit for years at all without charging.

Indeed, in addition to official investigative insulators and colonies, there are many other places of imprisonment, which are popularly called “basements” or “pits”.

“Most of the militias, including Russians, are sitting undeservedly,” says the former DPR battalion, Vadim Pogodin (call sign “Kerch”). - Maybe 10-20 real villains can. The rest are either generally innocent, or committed actions that are not crimes in conditions of hostilities. A hundred criminal cases have been instituted at the DPR. They are accused of killing a guy whom I have never seen in my life. ”

Pogodin talks about the murder of a 16-year-old schoolboy Stepan Chubenko, which occurred in July 2014. The authorities of Ukraine, on the basis of the testimony of witnesses, were accused of Pogodin’s crime (later the same accusations were brought to him in the “DPR”).

As indicated in the materials of the criminal case, the teenager was detained at the checkpoint in Kramatorsk. The reason was the yellow-blue ribbon on the backpack-Pogodin's subordinates considered the young man an activist of the “Right Sector”* and after interrogation shot; Pogodin himself, as the New Gazeta found out, finished off Chubenko with a shot in the back of his head. Today, a former battalion commander in a conversation with a Novaya correspondent denies involvement in the murder of a teenager, but he believes that the execution of 16-year-old Chubenko is not a serious crime:

“The fact that he was finished, I do not consider it shameful. But he did not give such an order and did not participate. ”

Pogodin talks about a Russian citizen with the call sign “Varan” (from the Oplot brigade), who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the “DPR”. He was accused of murders and that he requisitioned vehicles.

“I do not believe in the Bessed executions,” Pogodin says. - About the cars - yes, probably it was. But Zakharchenko himself drove in the same cars. "Varan" commanded the defense of "Petrovka". I am sure that he was removed so that it was possible to calmly give these positions to Ukrainians. ”

According to Pogodin, Alexander Zakharchenko conducted unspoken negotiations with the Ukrainian side on the surrender of the site that Varan controlled and some other positions. In exchange, the Armed Forces of Ukraine were supposed to transfer to the DPR troops the territory of the Donetsk airport.

“They are trying to present everyone without analysis by criminals,” says Elena, a relative of one of the Russians, who has been in the Donetsk pre -trial detention center for several years. - They sew accusations as a copy. Try. They demand to stipulate themselves and comrades. But even if a person really committed a crime, he has the right to qualified protection and a fair investigation! When it reaches the court, the sentences turn out to be prohibitive. With such terms, they can no longer be released. Recently, Russian Vladimir Ustyantsev (the call sign “Zhuk”), who arrived in 2014 from Siberia to Donbass, who finished the 6th company of the Oplot brigade and appointed by the commandant G. Torez, received 21 years of strict regime without the right to appeal. He was presented with "push -offs" of transport and premises. "

“I do not believe any court decision of the DPR,” Pogodin adds. - The terrorist organization is currently operating there. The leadership of the republic has people who terrorize their people.

Any crime can be hung on a person who just roared on some henchlot Zakharchenko. ”

Our interlocutors argue that the system of power laid down in Ukraine operates in the “DPR” and now, only in an even more concentrated and perverted version. In the Ministry of Internal Affairs, MGB and the DPR prosecutor’s office, people who have passed from the Ukrainian side in 2015-2016 serve.

Before that, they arrested and planted the “Separs” and “quilted jackets”. Many still go to the other side of the front for pensions.

The staff of some power structures, including those that are engaged in the abduction and torture of people, will incredibly disappear. So, according to data published on the network, more than 1,100 employees are currently operating in the Donetsk emobe. And there are police units, MGB, RGSO (Republican State Security Service) and other units. On their uniform, weapons, maintenance, etc. The funds are allocated by Russia. Often, fighters of such detachments are listed as part of the Ministry of Emergencies, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and even the Ministry of Taxes and fees, but actually follow orders of the head of the republic. At the same time, in the trenches on the forefront, fighters for months stand without rotation.

After the famous December exchange of prisoners, some persons issued by the Ukrainian side were immediately accused by the security forces of the “DPR” of espionage.

According to them, the torture, which were applied to them by supporters of the Kyiv government, are just flowers compared to how former colleagues torment.

A source in the Union of Volunteers of Donbass (only through the SDD, more than 10 thousand Russians were sent to a hot spot) claims that the Russians in the DPR dungeons are languishing today more than 500.

“The Russian authorities do not take any actions for the liberation of our citizens,” the interlocutor explains in the SDD. - They are outlawed. As soon as these guys crossed the border, they were simply washed into the toilet. ”

Russia is not needed

Relatives and close Russians send complaints to the Foreign Ministry with a request to help. In response, they are informed that if these persons were arrested in Ukraine, then Russia would provide consular assistance. And in the case of the "DPR" this is not possible. In the courts of the DPR, all complaints are proposed to contact the Minsk Commission to resolve the conflict.

Familiar employees of the Russian special services explained that “where to need” are well aware of the problem. But they are not going to solve it.

“These people are not needed in Russia! For several years now, the topic of Donbass has been artificially jamming. And the “heroes” who came with real combat experience, which are not only in the blood by the ears, and even know “how it actually was,” is a nutrient medium for crime and protest moods.

The authorities of the "DPR" are given an unspoken indication to hold everyone who is possible. Up to life. These guys should either rot in the Donbass, or, having gone "to Wagner", quietly perish in Syria. "

“Relatives of Russians who are in prison in the republics are afraid to call their surnames,” says Larisa Shezler, chairman of the Union of political emigrants and political prisoners of Ukraine. - I am ready to contact the Ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova with this problem. The question can be raised in the Council for Human Rights under the President of the Russian Federation, in the State Duma, in the Public Chamber, etc. But for this we need the names of those who are sitting in a pre -trial detention center or already convicted. ”

Our sources in the DPR called the names of several Russian citizens who are behind bars today: Vladimir Vitalyevich Apanasov (born 03.24.1997 in the Rostov Region), fought from March to November 2015; Kotov Kirill Mikhailovich (born 08/18/1987 in the city of Penza); Naumov Kirill Sergeevich (born 08.10.1993 in the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky), served from 2015 to 2016 in the Vostok unit. A period of seven and a half years.

These are the stories of several supporters of the “Russian world”, who were stolen in the DPR.

Activist of the "Russian Spring" Vitaly Chernyshev, representative of the Russian Humanitarian Fund named after Saint Tikhon in the "DPR":

“In 2014, at the very beginning of the“ Russian Spring ”, I was one of the commandants in the Donetsk regional administration, the foreman of the Berkut unit. He fought in Ilovaysk, Debaltseve, at the airport. When I saw a beginning lawlessness: “anneal”, banditry, theft, etc. - I decided to engage in humanitarian aid.

In 2015, to the building of the Fund. Saint Tikhon came the employees of the MGB. Several food machines, clothing, medicines, most of which were intended for the orphanage, were frozen. There were also two trucks of medical equipment from Germany. In total, the property was taken more than $ 3 million. As far as I understand, their goal was the capture of the building itself.

I was accused of espionage in favor of ... Russia. Placed in IVS. They beat, put on a cellophane bag on their heads, made a “swallow” (tied the legs with their hands behind your back), broke their ribs, crushed their fingers on the leg, knocked out their teeth with a pistol with a pistol, made a concussion. I was tortured in the 410th MGB office of my old acquaintance Sergey Kurkchi with the call sign “Greek”, with whom I had a conflict in Donetsk in the spring of 2014.

A person who openly said that he had recently crossed the side of the “DPR” “worked” with him, and used to serve in the SBU. They demanded to give out some explosives. They threatened to shoot for the fact that I know too much. Two months later, they released. But right on the threshold they again arrested, charging in storing special equipment that allows you to imperceptibly produce audio and video: a clock and a pen with built -in cameras. These can be bought in a stall. Sentenced to year of imprisonment. In prisons, I met citizens of Russia and Georgia. A day after the release of me was an attempt. My friend died. And I urgently left for Russia.

Each unit has its own basement, where people are contained as long as they like for a long time without trial. They can be shot down anymore.

One such basement is in the Donetsk television center (here is the security service of the Oplot unit), the other at ul. Kuprina, 292, where one of the special forces of the “Tsar” (Minister of Defense of “DPR” Vladimir Kononov) was infinite. ”

Lyudmila Tchaikovskaya, was engaged in the supply of humanitarian aid. Twice became a victim of abduction:

“Before the start of the war, I worked as a senior fire department in the penal colony No. 33 of the Donetsk region. In 2015, she began to engage in the supply of humanitarian aid to the Donbass in the Fund. Saint Tikhon. On February 6, we brought to Donetsk at the old Moskvich the next load of the humanitarian. During the transfer of children's medicines in the central market of the city, we were arranged “masks-shows”. They took the property for several hundred thousand rubles. In the future, it turned out that it was a division of the "champion" related to the DPR Ministry of Defense.

Fastened by handcuffs in a room with a pool. So I spent more than a month. It was very cold. They took the toilet twice a day. They promised to be separated from the children forever. They lifted it to the hole. The kidnappers were interested in one question: “Where is the money? "Allegedly, I had to transfer a large amount of money. In reality, it was about 100 thousand rubles. But in the fantasies of the kidnappers, rubles turned into euros, and then the amount grew to two million.

After some time, those who were a source of false information were brought there - Russians and Elena. There was also German Alex Alang, born in 1981, who came to the grave of grandfather with a thousand euros in his pocket. He was very well tortured. They made me admit that I spied on the Ukrainian side. March 11, I managed to run. But all my documents remained with the kidnappers. And in the "DPR" this death is like.

Having agreed for help with friends in the MGB and the police, on March 25, I returned there. They put me again. When the MGB tried to conduct surgery to save, the abductors promised to substitute me under the bullets. After the next attempt to escape, they fastened me in the hangar to the iron staircase with self -tapping handcuffs ( Lyudmila had scars in their arms. - A.G. ). Hands are terribly swollen. On June 16, I ran away from the window along the antenna cable.

In early autumn, I found out that I was at 5-6 weeks of pregnancy. And on September 14, Emgabshevniki for Vitaly Chernyshev came to the fund. I was scared that no one would see Vitaly anymore, and demanded that I be taken too. Then, for the company, I was first presented with espionage in favor of Russia, and then the “illegal turnover of special tools intended for the unspoken receipt of information”.

Although I introduced a certificate of pregnancy, IVS forbade a parcel with warm things from freedom. I was frozen and worried so that in the end I lost my child.

I had to make a deal with the investigation and plead guilty. Sentenced to the year. Released only on November 11, 2016. Наконец-то я смогла сделать паспорт и выехала в Россию. Подала документы на убежище. But they refused me. Объяснили, что никакой угрозы моей жизни в «ДНР» нет. Сейчас пытаюсь опротестовать этот отказ».

*The organization is prohibited in the Russian Federation