Viktor Filinkov, a defendant in the “Network” case in St. Petersburg, went on a hunger strike in a pre-trial detention center

Viktor Filinkov, a defendant in the “Network” case in St. Petersburg, went on a hunger strike in a pre-trial detention center as a sign of solidarity with political prisoners. This was reported by the telegram channel “RUPRESSION”.

According to the channel, on October 30, “Day of Remembrance for Victims of Political Repression in the USSR,” Filinkov will submit an official statement about the hunger strike to the head of pre-trial detention center-3 of the Federal Penitentiary Service of St. Petersburg.

The conditions of Filinkov’s hunger strike are unknown, but earlier lawyer Vitaly Cherkasov noted that his client suffers from osteochondrosis and a constant cold. Previously, the lawyer said that Filinkov’s health had deteriorated significantly while he was being transported from different cities for investigative measures.

“I encourage you to remember the past. I encourage you not to be on the sidelines now. I encourage you to never be afraid!

I am outraged by the actions of the FSB, the Investigative Committee, the prosecutor’s office, and the courts, thanks to which Russia has returned to the past: to repression, political prisoners, lies and fear.

I express my solidarity to all political prisoners and go on a hunger strike,” RUPRESSION reports Filinkov’s appeal.

• According to investigators, “Network” is a terrorist organization, which allegedly has cells in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Penza and Belarus. In total, 11 anarchists and anti-fascists from St. Petersburg and Penza are involved in the case. The investigation believes that community members were preparing terrorist attacks in Russia in order to raise an armed rebellion.
• The defendants in the Network case talked about psychological pressure, electric shock torture and weapons that FSB officers planted on them. Some of them refused to confess and said that they gave them under torture.
• Anti-fascist Viktor Filinkov was arrested in January. He admitted guilt, but later stated that he did it under torture. Members of the Public Monitoring Commission of St. Petersburg recorded numerous traces of burns from a stun gun on the anti-fascist’s body. Victor said that one of the FSB officers who tortured him threatened that if he refused to confess, the anti-fascist would go to another region “in a car with specialists.”