In Tyumen, a major city in western Siberia, security forces disrupted a punk concert over suspicions of links to the “Tyumen case.”

On 4 April, officers from Centre “E” and OMON, together with activists from the far-right “Russian Community” organisation, disrupted a punk concert at the “Forester’s Cabin” bar. This was reported by the Telegram channel supporting those involved in the “Tyumen case.”

One of the attendees told OVD-Info that at about 6pm, masked people entered the premises.

“The concertgoers were forced to lie face down on the floor, their documents and phones were checked—messages, photo gallery, browser history. One of the spectators was made to do squats and push-ups. According to eyewitnesses, several young men were given draft notices to report to the military recruitment office,” the “Tyumen Case” Telegram channel writes.

According to the OVD-Info source, some visitors were beaten by security forces on the head and ribs. Women and minors, as well as those with health problems, were taken outside for document and phone checks. Those who remained were lined up against the wall in the bar, after which their documents and phones were also checked.

The attendee said police were interested in tattoos and patches on clothing, photographs on phones and inspected bags. He said some concertgoers had Telegram group chats created for them with certain bots, or were told to come to Centre “E” to check in after a few days.

The “Tyumen Case” channel notes that at first, police said their reason for the raid was the presence of minors in the bar.

“Eyewitnesses explained: in fact, the security forces mistakenly believed that the concert was organised in support of the ‘Tyumen case.’ Audience members were questioned about the purpose of the event, its connection to the case and their attitude towards anti-fascism and anarchism,” the channel reports.

The raid resulted in no detentions.

• In August 2022, six anarchists from Tyumen, Yekaterinburg, and Surgut became defendants in the “Tyumen case.” They were accused of creating or participating in a terrorist organisation (parts 1 and 2 of Article 205.4 of the Criminal Code), preparing a terrorist act (para. “a,” part 2 of Article 205 of the Criminal Code with the application of part 1 of Article 30 of the Criminal Code), the illegal manufacture of explosive devices (part 3 of Article 223.1 of the Criminal Code) and their possession (part 4 of Article 222.1 of the Criminal Code).
• According to the investigation, the anarchists created the terrorist group “People’s Will Vanguard” due to “their hatred of the current state regime,” wanted to overthrow the government, and allegedly planned terrorist attacks on the routes of trains carrying military equipment from Russia to Ukraine.
• Defendants in the “Tyumen case” said they were tortured after detention, including the use of electric shocks and water torture resembling drowning.