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In Kirov, on the evening of 9 October, lawyer and blogger Anton Dolgikh was detained. His exact whereabouts and the reason for his detention are still unknown. This was reported by “Slovo Zashchite” citing lawyer Violetta Volkova.

In the video published by Volkova, it can be seen that Dolgikh was forced to the ground, then put into a vehicle and taken away. According to the lawyer, the people detaining him wore no visible identification and did not identify themselves. Neither Dolgikh’s family nor his lawyer was told where he was taken.

“What exactly did Anton Dolgikh do that gave grounds to detain him like this on a Friday evening? Will the duty lawyer get in touch with me? That’s a rhetorical question. By law, they should. But in practice, we’ll see,” wrote Volkova.

  • Dolgikh is a Kirov-based lawyer and blogger. He is known for videos from courts, police stations, and the prosecutor’s office, as well as his clashes with officials and law enforcement. Dolgikh has criticised local authorities and the judicial system. His YouTube channel has around 1.5 million subscribers, and some videos have garnered tens of millions of views.
  • Dolgikh has long been involved in politics. He headed the Kirov branch of the opposition People’s Freedom Party (PARNAS), was a member of the Coordinating Council of the opposition, and ran in regional elections. He also tried to run for governor of Kirov region, but was not allowed to take part in the election.
  • In February 2025, Dolgikh was arrested on bribery charges. According to investigators, Dolgikh gave 4,500 roubles (about US$50) to a branch manager so that after working hours, staff would leave letters addressed to him in a designated spot. Dolgikh himself described this money as financial help for the postal workers. Even before the case was opened, Dolgikh handed in a confession, explaining that he feared he might be falsely accused because of his conflicts with the local authorities. In February, a case was opened against him for petty bribery (article 291.2 part 1 of the Russian Criminal Code). The court eventually sentenced Dolgikh to one and a half years in a penal settlement. The nine months he had spent in a pre-trial detention centre were counted at a rate of one day for every two, so Dolgikh was released in the courtroom.

18:27 Anton Dolgikh is now facing criminal charges of using violence against a public official (article 318, part 1 of the Russian Criminal Code), reported “7×7” citing his lawyer Violetta Volkova.

As Volkova stated, Dolgikh is accused of allegedly striking a Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) officer on the street on the evening of 17 September, causing the officer ‘pain and, apparently, offence.’ The lawyer called the accusation a lie. The investigation is requesting that Dolgikh be remanded in custody, and a preventive measure is expected to be decided in the coming days.

The news has been updated due to new information about the criminal case against Dolgikh.