An engineer suspected of setting fire to cars with pro-war symbols was detained in Omsk

In Omsk, on December 29, police detained engineer Anton Smolyaninov, who is suspected of setting fire to several cars with the letters Z. This is reported by Baza and the Gorod55 publication .

According to the security forces, on October 7 and 12 and November 7, Smolyaninov set fire to cars with symbols of support for the war. According to the publications, the police established surveillance of the man and detained him after he allegedly set fire to a transformer box on 1st Military Street, which fed the TB dispensary and private houses. The building survived, but the fire damaged two cable lines.

After the arrest, Smolyaninov confessed to setting fire to cars, the media reported. He said that the reason was his negative attitude towards the war in Ukraine and the desire to harm those who spoke in support of it.

Now the man is in the temporary detention facility . A case was brought against him under the article on intentional destruction or damage to property (Article 167 of the Criminal Code). Baza adds that the security forces also charge Smolyaninov with an article about a terrorist attack (Article 205 of the Criminal Code).

• Since February 24, the first day of the “special operation” in Ukraine, residents of Russian cities have been taking anti-war actions every day and talking about the tragedy online. Anti-war speeches and statements become a reason for criminal prosecution. At the moment, more than 390 people have become defendants in criminal cases initiated because of a protest against the war with Ukraine. More about this in our guide .
• Since the start of the war in Ukraine, the authorities have become more likely to characterize arson as a terrorist attack, which did not cause serious damage, but was probably caused by an anti-war stance.