How to survive house arrest: stories of political prisoners

Since July of this year, a day under house arrest is counted in half a day. Compared to the premises in jail, house arrest is perceived as a softer measure, but it also has its own serious disadvantages. The OVD-info journalist talked with people who were forbidden to leave her own house, and found out what they are doing and what they miss the most.

"We must tell you about the fact that it is not good to run away"

In the spring of 2017, Mathematics Dmitry Bogatov was accused of calling for terrorism and riots: IP-address Bogatov coincided with the address of a person’s computer who left “extremist” comments. Bogatov supported the output node of the Tor network, that is, any users could use the IP address-this is exactly what happened. Due to the investigation error, the mathematician spent several months in a pre-trial detention center and for more than six months-under house arrest.

In May, in this case, a resident of Stavropol Vladislav Kuleshov was arrested.

Of course, it became easier when it was transferred from a pre -trial detention center under house arrest, there was an opportunity to communicate with people, in addition to the wife with whom I lived and live. They could come to me, there was no restriction in communication.

I was assigned a walk from 8 to 10 in the morning every day. Usually at this time I walked in the park, sometimes I went to the store, although it is also a nervous business, you constantly look at the watch. Plus, still went to court once a month/two, there were still investigative actions, familiarization with the appointment of examination, interrogations.

I walked with a house bracelet, there was a special FSINEL phone nearby, which was tracking that a man with a bracelet was in an apartment. The bracelet, by and large, does not cause inconvenience, you get used to it, wash with it, it becomes an accessory like a clock. True, the phone that tracks the bracelet does not work perfectly, sometimes the connection disappears. Then the inspector calls and asks the question: "Are you here?" - Well, of course, I picked up the phone here, I say to myself. Communication can be an abyss at any time, so he can call at half -past in the morning, and this is unpleasant.

Twice a week, sometimes less often, the inspector comes to visit physically, take a piece of paper that a clarification conversation was held with me, which, in fact, has never been. Once I could not stand it and asked: “What should it really be in this conversation?”, The inspector answered me: “We must tell you about the fact that running away is not good.” Thank you, I thought, here is a revelation.

I do not understand how all these illogical official plans are being built. The scale of the disaster was that my inspector had 50 people under supervision. Let's calculate: we multiply this, respectively, by two, then we multiply the time that he should spend with me, in general, does not fit at 40 hours - from the word at all. And at 80, too, with difficulty. So there is no time for conversations.

Communication with the outside world was very depressing, because it looked something like this: “Tan, find me on the Internet” (we are talking about the wife of Dmitry Bogatov Tatyana Fedorova -OVD-info). You see, we are already so accustomed to the Internet, everything is so trite: if you don’t know something, then you open the Internet, and there you already find out everything. And under house arrest, you sit for yourself, the Internet is not, there is no phone, you can’t call, it’s impossible to break through with a neighbor, and you sit for hours and wait until someone who has the Internet appears. (Technically, no one turns off the Internet in the prisoner’s apartment, but they have the obligation to use it not to use it. If it accidentally discovers that he had violated the conditions of house arrest, somewhere logged in under his account, the preventive measure can change- the OVD-info ).

But I had books, I read all this time, different: both artistic and technical works. I also could use a computer, but without the Internet. But there is a certain amount of technology that can be mastered without the Internet - for example, I learned to clip.

Sometimes a sense of helplessness visited-for example, from the fact that you cannot go to the store and buy something. It was impossible to just call and ask, it was necessary to wait until someone comes to you: the wife will be in the evening, mother, maybe he will come in the afternoon.

When I was released from house arrest, I did not have time to feel the liberation, because emotions overwhelmed me due to what happened next. Experts made an examination for a long time. According to the investigation, under house arrest, I sat not to put pressure on experts. The examination ended, nothing seditious was discovered on my computers, and after house arrest I am issued a lower wizard. At that moment, the phrase spun in my head: "What the hell?" Now I am already in the status of a witness in the case, and the witness cannot be issued a recognizance not to leave. So it did.

"A minute thaw in the judicial investigation system"

Dmitry Buchenkova was accused of participating in the riots and attacking police officers during the Million Million on May 6, 2012. Buchenkov insists that on that day he was with his relatives in Nizhny Novgorod - this was confirmed by his father, with whom they dug a garden in the country on May 6. On that day, at the rally there was a man in a black hood, remotely similar to Dmitry. However, an independent examination showed that this is not Buchenkov, but another person.

Buchenkov spent 15 months in a pre -trial detention center, after which he was transferred under house arrest. In November 2017, Dmitry left Russia and moved to Lithuania. It was possible to do this, because the Naro-Fomer unit of the FSIN did not have enough bracelet for the prisoner.

If the content is compared with house arrest, it is how to come from winter to summer. That is, of course, the conditions of purely psychological and household are much better, so many prisoners seek from a pre -trial detention center to fall under house arrest, but in most cases it does not work.

My case is rather an exception to the rules. Within 15 months, 10 lawyers made a petition to be transferred under house arrest or a wizard subscription. But it did not work out, but what happened once in the Moscow City Court is rather an accident that was connected, as we and lawyers decided, with a minute thaw in the Russian investigative and subsidiary system. Prior to this, Ildar Dadin released the Supreme Court, so we suggested that I just got into a moment of freedom. It was a matter of incident, he was very lucky.

In the Code of Criminal Procedure, it is not well painted in detail how the house arrest should take place. The decision on how he will be depends on the judge and on how the lawyers work. I was forbidden to communicate with anyone, including my loved ones. It was allowed with a lawyer, court workers, FSIN employees, and representatives of the investigation, a walk was also allowed one hour a week. I tried an hour a week: for half an hour to buy food for a week in advance, so that there was something to eat, if it remained, I tried to take a walk. I saw loved ones only at court hearings.

I could not see my relatives, because they passed as witnesses, despite the fact that they did not testify and, in principle, could not give. For example, I was not yet familiar with my wife in 2012, but she still drank her as a witness.

In any case, of course, domestic arrest is better than the maintenance of in custody, but at least in the prison cell there is at least whom to chat with. And under house arrest, besides the lawyer, there was no one to talk to. It so happened that no one in the apartment except me was registered, so I lived alone.

Another prisoner cannot work while he is sitting under arrest, and it is completely incomprehensible, but what to buy for food? Judges do not even delve into this question: what to eat to a person. They supported me: through relatives, comrades, lawyers transferred money. The judges probably have such a logic: “Ah, you have nothing to eat, but let's send you to a pre -trial detention center, here you will have food there.” Logic bureaucratic and vice.

There was no bracelet on me, control took place in this way: an employee of the FSIN, to which I was attached, could enter and check me at any time. Moreover, she did not live very far, and it often happened that she came, called the intercom, was interested in whether I was in place or not, without warning about her visit. This happened several times a week. She came at different times of the day with the exception of the night. There is some kind of internal instruction of the FSIN, according to which it is impossible to check the prisoners, including those who are under house arrest, from 22.00 to 6.00, if there are no emergency circumstances.

In my free time, I tried to maintain my physical shape, cook something, cook for as long as possible in order to steal time. I had television, but, frankly, I was tired of the TV in prison, he worked there in the camera around the clock, I tried not to turn it on at home, especially the first channel. I read, asked lawyers to bring books on political science, on history. He also wrote his own book “Falsification of criminal cases in modern Russia on the example of swamp cases”. It came out about a month ago in electronic form in the publishing house "Self -determination", and in the near future, in print, it will be released by the St. Petersburg printing house "Lixoystar".

He wrote a book to take himself something. The investigation allowed me to use a computer without Internet access, because I need to get acquainted with the materials of the criminal case, which were electronic - and in the criminal case more than 100 hours of video. I watched videos from the events of Bolotnaya Square. I never looked over the large part. I needed not just to look, but to study episodes with feeling, with a proper, with an arrangement.

In general, I really missed fresh air, I wanted to go to the forest, somewhere from Moscow, to the Russian region, and to breathe there.

"It seemed strange that they were free"

Blogger Ruslan Sokolovsky from Yekaterinburg in 2016 shot a video on how he “catches Pokemon” in the temple. A criminal case was brought against Sokolovsky about the insulting the feelings of believers and the initiation of religious hatred. In total, the blogger spent about six months in jail, and under house arrest - two months. Sokolovsky was found guilty and sentenced to a conditional time.

Under house arrest, it was definitely easier than in the cell. The temperature regime is more comfortable: you can easily and quickly get sick, you can manage, because the food is terrible there, you can get into the trouble, your cellmates that you do not know can attack you. Home arrest is a safer and more calm event.

He passed it very monotonously with me. The daily routine lost a lot: I went to bed after dinner, because it didn’t work at night. I woke up quite late, regularly watched programs, read stories, novels, mainly fiction and scientific. I tried not to forget about the physical form: squeezed, crouched, otherwise it would completely rust. Sometimes I played in GTA, Assassin's Creed, I just sat down at the computer and did it for several hours. I also watched the TV shows, reviewed the “Great”, it took another two hours. He wrote synopsis to books - however, he did not finish the books, although the synopsis is quite expanded.

After three or four months, apathy covered me, because every day you are in stress, subconsciously waiting for you to put you or something like this will happen. I often lay for several hours and looked at the ceiling, could not do anything, there was no strength. When apathy appeared, the productivity fell, I stopped reading, watching, writing.

There were problems with socialization, after arrest, at first it was difficult to communicate with people and maintain contact with them, because I was forbidden to communicate with everyone except lawyers. We have such a law in Russia that at the stage of the judicial investigation you cannot see witnesses (such a decision may be made by the court at the request of the investigator- OTD-info ). They managed to call for witnesses all my friends, relatives. They even called my mother and interrogated. I still did not understand what would happen bad if I saw my mother, but no, it was forbidden.

Walks were also prohibited. I remember how I stood by the window, I looked out into the street, people walked there, the thought flew in my head: “Wow, they are walking along the street, they are allowed, they just do it - they go!” -It seemed strange to me that they were free, that they just walking along the street, did not fit in my head, it seemed so unrealistic. In general, I missed the most in walks, through the streets.

At first, the FSIN officers almost every day came with the audit, examined the state of the bracelet, whether the seal was damaged in the unit. They wondered if I was well, and then they just stopped walking, never came.

At some point, money could end with me, but human rights organizations helped me, Mikhail Khodorkovsky sent me money through “open Russia”. After all, when you sit under arrest, then all the money goes to pay for the work of lawyers. But I have not worked anywhere, because it is impossible to use the Internet, to contact the outside world too. Everything is prohibited, but money is needed.

It’s good that all this ended. When I was released, I caught myself that I was very clumsy, it seemed that even coordination was broken, I felt inappropriate at first. The first thing I did when I was freed was washed my left leg, it is forbidden to wet the bracelet. Believe me, washing it was a great pleasure.

"Year of Extremism"

Anna Pavlikova and Maria Dubovik talked in telegram chat with their friends on various topics of interest to them. The composition of the chat participants was not constant. At some point, Ruslan D. appeared in correspondence-he began to reduce all topics to political and called for more actively participating in the political life of the country. The young man fell into a zone of trust. Under his leadership, the “Charter of the Organization” was written, which Ruslan himself proposed to organize.

In March 2018, ten participants in Group were detained and accused of organizing an extremist community. Ruslan D. himself was not detained.

On August 16, 2018, there are two defendants in the case, 18-year-old Anna Pavlikova and 19-year-old Maria Dubovik, transferred from the pre-trial detention center under house arrest. OVD-info talked with the mothers of the girls: Julia Pavlikova and Natalya Dubovik.

Julia Pavlikova

When I came to Ana on dates, I said: “Anya, did you drink a pill? Anya, why didn't you say that you feel bad? ” To which she answered: “Listen, mom, I'm not at home, I’m closed in the cell, if I need a tablet, I need to ask a doctor about it, and reaching for a doctor is unrealistic, even if it is very bad.” Usually it happened like this, they came to her in the morning and said: “You are alive, why are you acting, what is bad for you?”

Of course, house arrest is better. Even in a purely domestic plan, now she wanted, went to the bathroom and spent as much time there as she needed. Just her first desire was like this: “Mom, I want to sit in the bathroom and sit for two hours to wash off all this dirt.” Although, of course, she went to the shower there, you yourself understand that this is all wrong. Now she can get up in the morning, when she gets enough sleep, and not when they wake up and find out how many people are in the cell, they build along the right side of the door, her hands are forced to take her head.

But this is invariably house arrest: she cannot correspond with anyone, cannot sit on the Internet. But still - she is at home, with her family people, with her birds, animals, books. The court ruled that Anya can communicate with relatives. And we all live together: dad, mom, older sister with her husband and daughter.

As soon as Anya arrived, we immediately threw all the things into washing, we wanted to wash off the prison smell. Now Anya basically constantly reads. We did not have the opportunity to send her books to the camera - everything that we sent by mail was sent to us back. Her only entertainment in the pre -trial detention center was to write answers to letters, there were no more entertainment.

She nurses with Olivia (Anna's niece -OVD-info ) , tries to be a good aunt for her. He is happy to prepare something tasty, recently made lasagna, she set the table to us. She is constantly engaged in some household chores, she wants to be useful. We tell her: "Anechka, we will do everything ourselves." And she - no, helps a lot of home.

With animals with their own. She worked in a veterinary clinic, now she should have acted, but, unfortunately, all our dreams were destroyed. They say that they will not take anywhere with such an article at all. In general, it seems to me that this year had to be called the "Year of Extremism."

Due to being in a pre-trial detention center, Anya completely lost her health. And being under house arrest, it is not so easy to go to the doctor. I go to the clinic, take a coupon, put on it a seal with the head doctor, because they don’t do this in the registry now, then you need to give this ticket to the investigator, the investigator prescribes permission, the permission needs to be taken to the Federal Penitentiary Service. In general, half a day, and sometimes the whole working day, goes to it. And doctors, of course, prescribe tests, and the direction for analyzes also needs to be confirmed.

After the pre -trial detention center, we underwent an examination, and we were told that everything was worsening, now she has a mitral valve of a second degree. During the examination, it was necessary to make reengen, and she had a bracelet on her leg, doctors with a bracelet were not allowed to do.

Anya will soon go to the hospital, I notified the FSIN about it. Не знаю, будут ли они переносить этот их огромный телефон к ней в больницу. Он такой огромный, что перенести его явно будет трудно. Прям аппарат XX века, к нему присоединена огромная трубка на шнурке, три кнопочки постоянно мигают. Нам запретили до него даже дотрагиваться. Но с нами в одном доме живет маленький ребенок, ей 11 месяцев, она постоянно исследует, все двигает. Высоко его не поставишь, нам просто некуда его убрать. Когда Оливия играет в коридоре, мы постоянно караулим, только бы она телефон не трогала.

Natalia Dubovik

Маша из СИЗО письма писала: «Мама, не ценила я твою домашнюю еду». Когда домой приехала, сказала: «После еды в СИЗО все вообще кажется вкусным». Сейчас у нее нервная система, по крайней мере, не так напряжена. Она была три месяца в камере, где было пятьдесят человек, а площадь камеры — семьдесят метров. Маша рассказывала, что не спала ни одной ночи, страшно было заснуть, существовала в каком-то полузабытьи, голова постоянно болела. Она первое время практически не ела и очень неохотно разговаривала с людьми, просто потому, что оказалась в сложных для себя обстоятельствах. Она говорила, что единственная ее отдушина в СИЗО — это наши письма.

Спустя какое-то время ее перевели в четырехместную камеру, там она уже могла спать, но выспаться так и не смогла, потому что кровать была короче и уже, рассчитана на подростков, а Маша высокая, у нее рост 175. Она много раз писала в своих письмах, что ей в этой маленькой камере гораздо лучше, хорошая атмосфера, и люди не курящие. Моя дочка не любит запах сигарет, а там большая часть женщин курит. It was hard for her.

Когда Мария приехала домой, в первую очередь она пошла в свою комнату, легла на кровать, обняла подушки, после четыре раза сходила в душ и ванную, не могла накупаться, ей просто хотелось побыть под водой. У нее не было возможности в СИЗО нормально принимать душ. Потом пошла на газон ( семья Дубовик живет в загородном доме — ОВД-Инфо) , расстелила коврик, улеглась. В тот день была ясная, теплая, безветренная погода. Я смотрела на дочку в окно, она так радовалась небу, лежала, смотрела на него и улыбалась, погрузившись в свои мысли. После она сходила в сарай, достала из него кроликов, у нас их два. Посадила на газон и смотрела на то, как они бегают по нему.

Только в этот момент она начала приходить в себя. Но потом приехали сотрудники и надели браслет, поставили специальный телефон, объяснили нам, что он настроен на контуры дома, а если человек выйдет за пределы, то сразу будет видно. И нам запретили покидать дом. Маша, конечно, расстроилась. Она думала, что у нее будет возможность еще погулять с кроликами и с дворовым котом, да и просто побыть на свежем воздухе… Но она не выходила из дома без надобности, боялась. Она сейчас вообще много чего стала бояться.

Первые дни, когда она приехала, просто высыпалась. После всего пережитого она часто что-то забывает, раньше я этого не замечала в ее поведении. Она ложится рано, встает поздно, она в сне будто растворяется. Постоянно говорит мне: «Мне нужно спать, отдыхать, восстанавливаться, мам».

Сейчас утро начинается с того, что мне соседка передает козье молоко, Маша натощак пьет стакан, очень ей нравится. А если человек делает что-то с удовольствием, значит, это на пользу. Читает книги, повторяет что-то по учебе, спортом занимается по мере возможностей: гимнастика, растяжка, прыжки на скакалке, упражнения с обручем. Приходит в форму, потому что у нее на фоне стресса произошел гормональный сбой — она поправилась на 10,5 килограммов. Мне кажется, это все из-за нервного срыва, это же влияет на здоровье и состояние тела.

Общается она только с семьей: со мной, с папой и с братом. Если кто-нибудь из друзей или знакомых хочет узнать, как у нее дела — спрашивает у меня. Если мне нужно у нее что-то уточнить, то я уточняю, а только потом отправляю сообщение.

Самая большая потеря сейчас — это отсутствие учебы, она хотела, да и сейчас хочет развиваться в ветеринарии. Она сказала мне, что хочет быть животным хирургом. Было бы идеально перевестись на подписку о невыезде и продолжать учебу. У нее много планов: закончить дополнительные курсы, которые требует программа ее вуза. Ей нужно пройти курсы по стрижке животных, брать дополнительные уроки специализированного медицинского английского. А также брать уроки по стоматологии, делать слепки зубов и многое другое, и ходить на курсы по хирургии. В домашних условиях все это сделать просто невозможно.

Обидно время терять. Она сидит и говорит мне недавно: «Мам, деградация какая-то. Да, я что-то читаю, но мне хочется жить полноценной жизнью, а я не могу». Интернетом ей пользоваться нельзя. Конечно, я могу по ее просьбе что-то скачать, распечатать, принести, но это все равно не то. У нее есть телефон, старая мыльница, но только для связи со мной. Например, если я куда-то уезжаю, а бывает нужно ее предупредить, я звоню и говорю: «Маш, иди открывай калитку, проверка приехала». Они приезжают два раза в неделю минимум, а бывает и три, и четыре раза, всегда по-разному. Мы с сотрудниками в контакте, они разрешили нам в суд самим приезжать, например.

Но домашний арест — это легче. Не сравнится это с тем, какие у нас были нервы, переживания, мытарства, когда она была в этом кошмаре. Как говорят: дома и стены лечат.