Security forces detained a resident of Kuban for "anti-Russian articles"
FSB officers detained a resident of the Beloglinsk district, accusing him of attempting to join a terrorist organization by preparing "anti-Russian articles."
The detained man is 34 years old. According to the security forces, he "adhered to radical nationalist ideology."
According to the FSB, the accused contacted representatives of a certain "pro-Ukrainian organization" through Telegram, which is recognized as terrorist and banned in Russia.
The "curator" instructed the man to "participate in the informational support of the organization's activities and promote its views among the residents of Kuban," reports the "Kuban 24" channel, citing the regional FSB.
According to the security forces, the detainee prepared several "anti-Russian" informational materials. He is charged with attempting to participate in a terrorist organization (part 2 of article 205.5 of the Criminal Code of Russia), which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
The special services' message does not specify whether the man agreed with the accusations. In a short operational video, the detainee, dressed in a red t-shirt and black pants, lies on the ground with his hands cuffed behind his back, while an approaching security officer asks, "How are you doing?" The detainee's face is not visible in the recording. One of the security officers demands that he state his full name, but the response from the audio track is removed.
The video also shows correspondence between the detainee and an alleged representative of the "pro-Ukrainian organization." The detainee offered to tell his interlocutor about the psycho-neurological boarding school in the Belorechensky district, noting that he spent two years there. Subsequently, he also sent his interlocutor analytical articles about the socio-economic situation in the Krasnodar region, expressing a desire for his materials to be published under the pseudonym "Kuban Patriot."
The FSB's message does not provide any data on any actions by the man that posed a real threat to the safety of the region's residents. The "Caucasian Knot" currently has no comments from the accused or his lawyer.
"Caucasian Knot" also reported that the court arrested activist "EcoWatch of the North Caucasus" Denis Matveev due to correspondence in support of Ukraine; previously, a search was conducted at his place. A criminal case has been initiated against 43-year-old Matveev for organizing or participating in the activities of a terrorist organization, sources reported. The FSB later stated that the activist, at the instruction of the "curator," "was preparing and disseminating articles of an anti-Russian nature" online.