MSU postgraduate student detained on suspicion of making explosives tells of torture by Balashikha police

MSU postgraduate student Azat Miftakhov said that after being detained in a case of making explosives, he was beaten at the Balashikha police department. His words were relayed by lawyer Svetlana Sidorkina.

Miftakhov was asked to confess, and when he refused and asked to call relatives or a lawyer, one of the officers put an object similar to a screwdriver (with a nozzle , but without a screw) to his chest. "Then he wanted to put the same screwdriver in his anus," the lawyer said.

She added that Miftakhov was hit in the face and chest, and kicked. There were no visible signs of beatings on the detainee except for a bruise on his ear and a mark from a screwdriver on his chest. According to Miftakhov, he was taken to the hospital to treat the abrasions, and then returned to the police. Miftakhov refused to testify, his hearing on the measure of restraint will take place on February 4.

In addition to Miftakhov, the police detained but later released six more anarchist activists. One of them, Daniil Galkin, also spoke earlier about torture. He said that, in particular, he was forced to say on camera to Channel One that he condemned Miftakhov's actions and the anarchist movement. This has not yet been shown on air.