“You’re young, why do you need this?”

On the afternoon of March 19, 20-year-old resident of Izhevsk Nikita Gorbunov went out to the Kirov Cultural Park with a poster in his hands “Hug if you are against war.” This happened the day after a pro-government festival dedicated to the anniversary of the annexation of Crimea was held there. The video of the action quickly became popular, and Gorbunov himself was detained and charged with “discrediting” the Russian Armed Forces. "Important Stories" recorded his monologue about why he decided to go out and what reaction he met among the townspeople and the police.

“They didn’t introduce themselves, of course.”

I went out to the park at about 1:50 pm on Sunday, and for the first five minutes no one came. I was even a little upset, and then there was an influx of people. To be honest, I didn’t count how many [people] came up to me, but maybe 50. Right in a row. I was surprised that not only the younger generation - teenagers, my age, but also people 35-40 years old, and families, and grandmothers - not many, probably three or four. They said: “Thank you,” “Well done.” One woman was worried that my hands were cold; she wanted to buy me coffee.

I managed to stand for an hour. Somewhere in the middle, a woman and a man came up, called him a “babe”, called the [Ukrainian] flag fascist, took a photo and said that they would now report to the appropriate place. It was unpleasant for me, but it was also funny to look at them. They seem to be adults. I thought that happy people, adequate ones, were coming up to hug, but during the war, apparently, there were more inadequate ones.

And then the park guard came up and started swearing: “Get out of here.” Naturally, I said no. He said, "You'll be sorry." I’m standing there and a police car pulls up. Two policemen come out. They didn't introduce themselves, of course. They said: “Let’s go.” I asked under what article. They explained to me [that 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code].

I didn’t have a lawyer [from human rights projects]. I somehow wasn't prepared for this.

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“Why do you need this, it’s still normal”

The poster said “Hug if you are against war,” and the flag of Ukraine and the flag of Russia were drawn. They wrote in the protocol that this was discreditation. The woman and man who ran into me in Kirov Park walked as witnesses. They said that I shouted “Glory to Ukraine!” to passing townspeople. But I didn't do that.

I was in the department for about four hours. I was photographed. Then for some reason they took prints of the soles of my shoes. And then every, probably second, person who entered the room took a photo of my passport. Four times. They said: “This is necessary for the investigation.”

In total, three people were in police uniform. The rest are in civilian clothes. I still don’t understand where or who they are from. There, something began with “SK” ( possibly the Investigative Committee. - Ed. ) - the police discussed this among themselves.

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These people without uniform, two people, periodically approached me, then took me to the second floor to an office. They asked me to take out everything I had in my pockets: phone, passport, and started asking me about everything. They asked questions: “How do you feel about the SVO” - that’s what they said, do I watch the news, what do I do, where do my parents work. I answered: “Article 51” [of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, “No one is obliged to testify against himself, his spouse and close relatives, the circle of whom is determined by federal law.”].

They took saliva - an expert, as I understood it, came and picked my mouth with a stick.

Everyone said: “You’re young, why do you need this, it’s still normal.” They constantly asked: “What were you doing on March 16, do you happen to go to clubs?” The action was on the 19th, and I didn’t understand at all whether they wanted to pin something on me, I don’t know. This was alarming.

One of them took my phone, came up to me, and told me to unlock it. I say: “No, well, why suddenly?” Then he found me on VKontakte and started showing me the page. I have the only post there that I published on the anniversary of the war. They show him and say: “You have relatives [in Ukraine] and have a dislike [for the war].” And at the end of the interrogation they say: “You either open your phone, or we will send it to an expert for examination.” They began to press that this would last for a long time. I unblocked it. They started looking for messengers, but they weren’t on the phone.

Then we went to mail and YouTube. The main emphasis [in the questions] was on whether I was watching Navalny. This is exactly what we were looking for. I tensed up: sometimes I receive some kind of newsletter saying that Navalny has been imprisoned for a certain number of days. Didn't find it, lucky.

Dad called the police just as they were about to release me. The policewoman asked: “If we have any questions, we will call you, will you come?” I was somehow confused.

“Portraits of the dead at every step”

I went out [outside] because I can't stand it. I think everyone now has the feeling that it is simply impossible to look at this, to observe.

My relatives live in Ukraine, in the Dnieper. The last time I was in Dnepr was 10 years old. And I remember this city: very alive. After 2014, we still communicated and even planned to go to them. It didn’t work out, but we communicated very well. After February 24 [2022], it became difficult and tense. I was mostly silent throughout the whole year [of the war] - I posted as many stories as possible on Instagram. And in January a rocket hit. The house was bombed. My relatives heard this blow, as far as I know. And I don’t know how to say this... Somehow I was carried away.

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I always wanted to write [to my relatives] with an apology, but I didn’t. There was a feeling of shame. Although I understand that it seems like I probably had nothing to do with it: I didn’t vote for anyone. But it was hard. On February 24, I posted a post about the year of the war. One friend wrote that they are interested in me at the SDG - this is our Regional Management Center, I don’t know how true this is. But communication with relatives began to be restored after my fast. And that motivated me [to come out].

Sometimes anger appeared, I just wanted to do something, go out somewhere, say something, but I was scared all the time. Sad all the time. And apathy: that you cannot influence anything. Do you think, damn it, am I the only one with such thoughts? I was especially upset when one school teacher, in a comment under my post, posted a video with Sergei Bodrov, where he says that you can’t speak badly about your country.

In Moscow, as far as I notice, there are not many posters with killed [Russian] soldiers in Ukraine. In Izhevsk, at almost every step. You go home - the poster is hanging, you turn - and there is a poster. On the central square, at the Opera and Ballet Theater, there is a huge letter Z. I’m talking now, and I’m getting goosebumps.

Just in 2019, I was in Moscow when rallies were taking place [against the exclusion of independent candidates from the Moscow City Duma elections], and I was very surprised by how many paddy wagons there were. But even then it was not as tough as it is now, because now it is simply impossible to take to the streets in a rally. Everything was blocked so abruptly and harshly. This is surprising, of course, and very sad.

When they released me, they showed me the news that Monetochka and Ekaterina Gordeeva had published me, I was very surprised. I was very surprised that so many people write, write, write constantly. And I was surprised that not a single person wrote anything rude.

I would like to say “Peace to everyone!” No war!". I didn’t plan the action, I just saw that there was one, beautiful, kind, and [people’s reaction] made me very happy - that I was not alone and not everything was lost. But then I was taken to a police station where there are people who are sure that all this [repression and war] is right.