A criminal case was opened against COVID-dissident Cheldiev under the article on public calls for extremist activities (Article 280 of the Criminal Code). According to the investigation, cited by the publication “Caucasus. Realities,” Cheldiev posted content on his Telegram channel calling for the overthrow of the constitutional order. The result of this activity was a popular gathering against the “self-isolation regime” on April 20.

Cheldiyev’s lawyer from the International Human Rights Group Agora, Andrei Sabinin, told Mediazona that the case was opened by the FSB department for North Ossetia. However, he was not officially notified about this and did not see the resolution to initiate the case.

Vadim Cheldiev is a COVID dissident, opera singer-baritone and supporter of the ideas of “Citizens of the USSR”, who accused the North Ossetian authorities of lying in connection with the coronavirus pandemic. On April 24, he was charged under Article 207.1 of the Criminal Code (public dissemination of knowingly false information about circumstances posing a threat to the life and safety of citizens) and Part 1 of Article 318 of the Criminal Code (use of violence against a government official). On April 21, Cheldiev was taken into custody for two months. According to investigators, Cheldiyev hit the employee of Center “E” several times in the face, who escorted him after his arrest in St. Petersburg.
On April 20, a public gathering against the self-isolation regime took place in the center of Vladikavkaz. About two thousand people took part in the action. The protesters were brutally dispersed by riot police, and as a result, 69 people were detained.

A third criminal case was opened against COVID dissident Vadim Cheldiev