The founder of the Revolt Center, Pavel Andreev, is a man against whom a case of “treason” (!) was opened by mistake: the security forces confused him with his full namesake

Here is his interview

In July 2025, security forces conducted searches in 12 regions as part of a case of “high treason” against the founder of the cultural space “Revolt Center” , former director of the publication “7x7” Pavel Andreev. In October, it became known that he had been confused with his namesake and they were going to initiate a case against another Pavel Andreev, an Ulyanovsk activist of the Platform for Civil, Anti-War and Humanitarian Initiatives (both Andreevs now live outside of Russia). Journalists from the Bereg publication spoke with Andreev, who became a defendant in the case of “high treason,” about how he learned about the mistake of the security forces and what he thinks about his persecution. Meduza publishes this material in its entirety.

— Where were you when you learned about the opening of the case, and how did you react to this news?

“I woke up somewhere around seven and saw that one of my colleagues wrote in the chat: she was being searched. Adrenaline immediately hit my head and I finally woke up. Together with other colleagues, we began to think that the search could not only come to her alone. Gradually we found out that, indeed, many people are being searched. But the essence of the matter remained unclear. At the same time, the barista, who was on shift [at the Revolt Center], wrote that the police also came to the hotel ( we are talking about the Formula Komi boutique hotel, which worked in the same space as the Revolt Center - note from Berega ).

At the same time, news began to arrive from other regions where searches were also taking place. Some of them were from people who had no connection with me. Because of this, at first there was a feeling that maybe they weren’t coming for us, that the interest of the security forces was connected with something else.

A few hours later, my acquaintances began sending me news from not the most reliable sources about a case being filed against me for treason. I didn’t believe it: where am I, and where is treason? I love only my daughter more than my native state. This whole story immediately seemed to me as absurd as possible. I remembered a lawyer from Kaliningrad [Maria Bontzler], who was first accused of treason, but then her article was reclassified as “confidential cooperation ,” that is, “treason-light.”

I thought that maybe it had something to do with the fact that I live in France. Later, they sent me a search warrant from one of the witnesses; it actually included my first and last name and the article “treason.” It became emotionally difficult. For me it was an insult, a blow to my good name.

A few days later, when the lawyer received a resolution to initiate a criminal case, where it was written what exactly “treason” was, I was shocked.

ー How did your lawyers discover that in fact the security forces simply mixed you up?

ー When the lawyers received the case materials, they, of course, did not understand anything. There, the FSB has such a large-scale ambition that it looks like a dream of Russian propagandists [about an ideal plot]. The lawyers asked if there was any evidence that I participated in this “Platform”. Then I went to Google and sent the lawyers links about Pasha [Andreev]. They wrote a petition to the investigator to terminate the criminal case, to which he did not respond for a long time. Later, he refused the lawyers - on the basis that the petition contained “screenshots of text content of unknown origin with photographs of an unidentified person” ( for example, interviews proving that another Pavel Andreev had connections with the “Platform” - note from “Berega” ).

The case is currently at the preliminary investigation stage. At the same time, during his arousal, no charges were brought against me, although this usually happens at the same time . They were presented only after I was arrested in absentia. It is unclear how long this will last. There will be a trial at some point - maybe in a week, or maybe in a year and a half.

Like any thinking Russian person, I was ready for criminal prosecution, ready to answer for what I did. But being responsible for something that you have nothing to do with is somehow absurd and simply unfair.

It all looks like a Netflix comedy. If you know who Pasha is, then it is obvious that we are different people who live in different cultural worlds. He does drag shows in Berlin, and I live in Lyon, one of the capitals of the French Catholic Church. I could laugh, but I don't find it funny at all.

Security forces burst into the hotel, forced random visitors to the floor and carried out total terror. Later, in August, they came to search my mother’s house. They also took advantage of the accusation that I allegedly received some millions from the European Union, and actually dispossessed me, seizing all my property and freezing my bank accounts.

— Why did you leave Russia even before a criminal case was opened against you?

“My homeland was taken away from me, although I love it very much.” I want to return as quickly as possible. The last time I was in Russia was in the spring of 2023. For ideological reasons, I remained in the country [after the start of the full-scale invasion], it seemed to me that this was important. Because of this, I even resigned as director of 7x7: it was obvious that it would not be possible to legally continue [doing] independent journalism under conditions of military censorship.

Later, in July 2023, when “7x7” was recognized as a “foreign agent,” for some reason I was listed as an “affiliated person.” This became a reason to live abroad [in France]. I have a small child, and I don’t want her to have to deal with all this.

— What do you think was the primary reason for initiating a criminal case: the security forces wanted to put pressure on the Revolt Center or on the Platform for Civil, Anti-War and Humanitarian Initiatives?

“I don’t know how to read other people’s thoughts, so I don’t know.” Until recently I did not believe that there would be a criminal case. I am only presented with a connection with the Platform, and it seems that the Revolt Center was declared a “foreign agent” only because of this criminal case. And before it, by the standards of what is happening in Russia in 2022–2025, everything was fine.

I think that if there had been no “Platform” and my “link” to it, the defeat of the “Revolt Center” would not have happened. There are much simpler ways to close a public area. It would have been possible to declare her a “foreign agent” earlier - and she herself would have closed down due to the inability to work and earn money.

It is difficult to talk about the case against the Revolt Center because it affected many people. I know that my closest colleagues associated with the center with business projects have lost their jobs. Some of them were banned from working: they were added to the list of “affiliated persons” [and it became more difficult to find a job]. This is all unfair, especially in the context of the fact that none of my closest colleagues left Russia; they really [wanted to work for the good of] their cities. That’s why we worked with Revolt Center. You have to understand that Syktyvkar has lost its most stylish hotel: it is now sealed. Where is Syktyvkar and where is the stylish hotel? We made a place for business travelers, advertised the city in that way, and did it well.

— Do you think the case of the Revolt Center could be connected with the fact that it promoted the ideas of decoloniality and regional equality?

“I can say that now is the worst time to discuss decolonization. “Revolt Center” opposed the meaning and sense of the word “decolonization” that people who learned about it in 2022 put into it. I don’t want to say anything more on this topic.

— Did you communicate with the second Pavel Andreev after all this? What would you like to tell him?

“It wasn’t the first time I was confused with Pavel, so I had to get to know him. But after all this confusion [with the criminal case] broke, I didn’t talk to him.

I probably have nothing to say to Pavel. I wouldn't want to blame everything that happened to me on him. Obviously other people have made a mistake here. And I will be ready to hold discussions with the Platform only when, because of what has been said, there is no risk of falling under reprisals.

Pavel Andreev from the Platform for Civil, Anti-War and Humanitarian Initiatives refused to comment on the case against Pavel Andreev from the Revolt Center.

"Shore"