After Khristolyub Vegan’s death in prison, a negligence case was initiated.

After the death of preacher Khristolyub Vegan in Correctional Colony No. 2 in Voronezh, a major city in southwestern Russia, a criminal case for negligence (Article 293 of the Criminal Code) has been opened, reports SOTAvision. The publication found that Khristolyub was discovered hanged in the punishment cell.

Yesterday, 20 April, Khristolyub’s father visited the colony and also met with an investigator. “Ostorozhno, novosti” clarifies that his father was summoned for questioning. There he was told that his son was found hanged in the punishment isolation cell, where he had been sent in early April.

SOTAvision writes that the cameras may not have been working in the area where Khristolyub died.

His father does not believe the suicide version, noting that his son had previously spoken about being ready to start a hunger strike if under pressure.

Khristolyub’s father had previously told OVD-Info that the preacher had announced a hunger strike a few months ago after being placed in the isolation cell. He ended it when he was returned to the general unit.

“He had tense relations with the administration of IK-2, and, according to his father, there were also a few misunderstandings with some of his cellmates. So for now, it’s hard to say what caused his death,” said someone from Khristolyub’s circle.

A farewell to Khristolyub is scheduled for today.

On 17 April, Khristolyub’s father received a call from the colony informing him that his son had died. At that time, the cause of death was not disclosed.

The preacher had been held at Voronezh IK-2 for about three months, kept under strict conditions. Prior to that, he served his sentence at Colony-Settlement No. 10, where he was repeatedly sent to a punishment cell for violations. Here’s how Khristolyub himself described his first days in that colony:

“As soon as I arrived, they immediately gave me 5 days in the punishment cell. And just now—another 15. For no reason at all, just like that. I agreed to everything and didn’t protest against anything. Still, they gave me 5 days, and as of today—another 15 days to be completely shut away. Supposedly because, at one point, I allegedly wasn’t holding my back straight.”

• In February 2025, Khristolyub was sentenced to three years in a colony-settlement on charges of offending religious feelings (part 1, article 148 of the Criminal Code) and rehabilitation of Nazism (subparagraph “v” part 2 and part 4, article 354.1 of the Criminal Code).
• The first charge was related to a video with harsh statements about Islam on the preacher’s YouTube channel. The article on rehabilitation of Nazism was brought because of his statements about the recruitment of prisoners for the war in Ukraine, about the glorification of Soviet soldiers, and about their crimes against civilians.
• Khristolyub also posted videos criticising the Russian authorities and the invasion of Ukraine. In his final statement, the preacher said he had “used all his resources, strength, means, and opportunities for three years to stop the Russist-Ukrainian war.”