Search
Human rights defender Maksim Davydov, who helps mobilised residents of occupied Donetsk, has not been in contact for the fourth day after security forces arrived. This was reported by ASTRA and the Telegram channel ‘Mobilisation DNR Live.’
On the morning of 30 October, Davydov told an ASTRA correspondent that officers from Centre “E” had been breaking down the door to his flat since six in the morning. “I don’t know what it is this time,” the human rights defender managed to write. After that, he stopped responding to messages. On 1 November, ‘Mobilisation DNR Live’ also tried to contact him, but the message went unread.
Back in February, officers from Centre “E” had already come to Davydov’s home: they broke down the door of his flat, searched it and took the human rights defender to Police Station No. 2. ASTRA, citing sources, reported that he was beaten there and forced to sign documents.
Shortly before this, a criminal case was launched against Davydov for document forgery (Part 5 of Article 327 of the Criminal Code). According to the security forces, in autumn 2025 he presented prosecutors with a Soviet citizen’s passport in his name, issued that same year.
Davydov had drawn attention to illegal mobilisation in the occupied territories. In May 2025, he was fined 45,000 rubles (about US$500) under the article on “discrediting” the army for comments in which he criticised mobilisation in the region and the war in Ukraine.