Gruzchik from the Tver region was arrested for “justifying terrorism”

A trucker from the city of Ostashkov, Tver region, Aleksey Sukhobokov, has been in a pre-trial detention center since October last year. Ego is accused of justifying terrorism. According to the investigation, he drew a swastika on the Gazelle dirt car, intended to go to Ukraine to fight on its side, and in a private conversation was happy about the explosion on the Crimean bridge. All charges are based only on the testimony of his colleagues.

Alexey Sukhobokov was first arrested for seven days for displaying Nazi symbols. However, after the expiration of the term of administrative arrest, he was informed about the initiation of a criminal case on the justification of terrorism and was sent to a pre-trial detention center. His lawyer, Valery Luzyn, told Avtozak LIVE that the witnesses in the case are under pressure. The testimony that Alexey’s colleagues gave in the administrative case is used in the criminal case, and therefore, if they renege on their words, they may be charged with perjury.

According to Sukhobokov’s mother, her son is attracted to paganism, he has an interest in pagan symbols, including the Slavic spinning wheel, which graphically resembles a swastika. Already during the court proceedings, it became clear that he ordered a T-shirt and a chevron with the image of the letter Z in an online store on October 1. As Luzin says, this shows that there is no support for terrorism and that Alexey is not connected to Ukraine in any way.

Now the defense demands any measure of restraint, except detention. Lawyer Valery Luzyn asserts: “All the evidence has already been obtained, the accused has not been satisfied with eye bets for two months. This is an indicator that the investigation does not need a person.”

• After the beginning of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, criminal cases under the article “justification of terrorism” are regularly initiated against people who expressed disagreement with the actions of the Russian authorities or support for Ukraine. Oral statements or posts and comments on the Internet may be the reason for initiating a case. According to this article, for example, former history teacher Nikita Tushkanov and Arkhangelsk student Olesya Kryvtsova are being prosecuted.