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The Pervomaisky District Court in Izhevsk, a major city in the Urals, has sent activist Dmitry Morozov to a pre-trial detention centre for two months as part of a case concerning possession of a large quantity of drugs (Part 2, Article 228 of the Criminal Code), reports RusNews.
According to the prosecution, Morozov kept 0.38 grams of mephedrone at home, which was found in a dark-coloured package. At the hearing, the prosecutor also claimed to have information that the activist was allegedly involved with “the activities of a Ukrainian armed group,” reports Kommersant-Udmurtia.
Morozov was detained on the evening of 2 October, when he went out to the shop. The next day, FSB officers brought him to his home and conducted a search there. According to the activist’s partner, Darya Bagina, officers said they had found drugs in a cupboard in Morozov’s room and also seized computer equipment. Bagina believes the drugs did not belong to him: the activist had travelled to his parents' place to help look after his ill grandmother.
During the search, Morozov’s father, Valery Tsarenko, noticed scratches on his son’s face and swollen hands. He suggested the swelling was caused by handcuffs, as Morozov had been kept in them all night. At that time, officers told the family that the activist was being accused of ties to a certain banned organisation. The family only learned about the drug case later.
After the search, Morozov was taken away again. For some time, neither relatives nor lawyers were told where he was. For over 24 hours, his defenders were not allowed to see him. Only on the evening of 4 October was one of the lawyers able to meet the activist.
The family believes Morozov’s prosecution is linked to his activities after the State Duma elections. He had pushed for a rally in Izhevsk to protest election violations. The city authorities said that the event could not be held at the requested location, but the Oktyabrsky District Court of Izhevsk ruled that the refusal was unlawful.
On the morning of 5 October, before the hearing on pre-trial restrictions for Morozov, police took his parents, Valery and Elena Tsarenko, to the station. They had been summoned by phone for questioning and were planning to attend with a lawyer, but police arrived to collect them. According to the activist’s parents, they were not given formal summons. They were released following the questioning.