Human rights activist from Syktyvkar Andrey Ivashev’s arrest was extended until January 2023

The Syktyvkar City Court extended the arrest of human rights activist Andrei Ivashev until January 7, 2023. This was reported to OVD-Info by local activist Elena Gulina, who attended the meeting.

Ivashev is accused under articles on public calls for extremism on the Internet (Part 2 of Article 280 of the Criminal Code), inciting hostility (Article 282 of the Criminal Code) and contempt of court (Article 297 of the Criminal Code).

The human rights activist asked to soften the preventive measure, but the court refused, citing the fact that Ivashov had previously allegedly violated the preventive measure - a ban on certain actions, which was imposed on him after his arrest in December 2021.

Also, the court, without explanation, rejected Ivashev’s request to appoint a lawyer of his choice, Gulina reports. The defendant refused the services of an appointed defense attorney.

In December 2021, security forces conducted a search in Ivashev’s apartment. The investigation requested that the man be placed in a pre-trial detention center, but then the court rejected this request.

The case of calls for extremism on the Internet (Part 2 of Article 280 of the Criminal Code) was opened against the activist in February 2022. Investigators decided that Ivashev called for the murder of the head of Komi Vladimir Uiba - they made this conclusion based on three comments that the activist allegedly left in 2020. After this, the court ordered the human rights activist to ban certain actions.

On March 18, Ivashev went to the Investigative Committee - he wanted to get permission to travel to Kirov, where he was supposed to have an operation. According to the Komi Public Meeting, the activist was detained in the investigator’s office and then taken to a temporary detention facility. The next day, the court sent the man to a pre-trial detention center. He still hasn't had the operation. Ivashev has a disability associated with a spinal disease.

• Previously, Andrei Ivashev defended local activists and, according to social activist Alexei Kolegov, fought against “police brutality.” In addition, he repeatedly took part in protest rallies and wrote blogs on social networks.