Demydenko, a volunteer who helped Ukrainians, died in a pre-trial detention center

Alexander Demydenko, a Russian volunteer who helped Ukrainian refugees, died in a pre-trial detention center in the Belgorod region. This is reported by the publication “Vot Tak” with reference to sources. It is confirmed that Demydenko died on April 5, it became known about the death only today, when his lawyer informed the deceased’s wife and son about it. The cause of death has not been reported, and there have been no official comments from the authorities yet.

Alexander Demydenko has been in custody since mid-October on charges of illegal arms trafficking.

Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, 61-year-old Demydenko went to anti-war pickets and helped Ukrainian refugees to return to their families, drove them to the border, hosted them at home. Up to 900 people stayed in his house and had to spend the night somewhere – the border crossing was often closed due to shelling, writes “Mediazona”.

Demydenko went missing at the Russian checkpoint “Kolotylovka” in the Belgorod region on October 17. According to the volunteers, he brought an elderly woman to the border crossing, but two members of the Teroborona blocked his way to the parking lot. After that, the connection with him disappeared.

Three days later, police officers brought Demydenko home and conducted a search, during which they allegedly found a grenade and detonators from the 1940s.

On October 20, Alexander Demydenko was arrested for 10 days on an administrative charge of drinking alcoholic beverages. On October 31, he was released, but the next day he was again detained and arrested for 30 days. During the second administrative arrest, a criminal case was opened for the illegal transfer of weapons and he was placed in a pre-trial detention center.

In November, it was reported that another criminal case was opened against Demydenko, under the article of treason. The lawyer, however, denied these reports. The volunteer’s stay in the pretrial detention center was extended several times – according to the same article about weapons.