Two soldiers demonstratively arrested in Russia: refused to go to war
A video showing the arrest procedure of two soldiers who refused to go to war was published on Telegram-channels. The soldiers were demonstratively detained right during the formation.
Source: Russian media outlet Meduza, Russian Telegram-channels
Details: In the video, two soldiers who are standing in formation on the parade ground are called by their last names that are likely Selivanov and Diagteryov (it’s hard to hear – ed.). An investigator comes up to them and informs them that on 16 November a criminal case under Art.332.2.1 (disobeying an order) of the Criminal Code of Russia was opened against them.
Then a convoy with stripes saying "Military Police" on their hands conducts a rough arrest procedure. The soldiers are being searched, handcuffed and put in a police vehicle.
It is not specified in the video when and where it was filmed. But it is clear that the weather in the video is rainy, the soldiers are dressed in warm clothes, and the lawn is green.
It is unclear whether the detainees were mobilised or contract soldiers.
Telegram-channels report that the video was shot in Belgorod Oblast and shows mobilised soldiers.
It is also reported that the soldiers were detained after they refused to go to war in Ukraine. They may be sentenced to three years in prison.
Maksim Grebeniuk, a lawyer, remarks that there was no need to detain soldiers in the territory of a military unit.
He believes that the arrest was "demonstrative" and was conducted with the aim "of intimidating others."
Background:
- On 20 September the Russian State Duma introduced the notions of "mobilisation" and "martial law" into the Criminal Code and approved amendments about the responsibility for deserting during mobilisation or martial law.
- On 24 September Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, signed the law with amendments to the Criminal Code of Russia about punishment for deserting, looting and giving oneself up into captivity.
- According to this law, disobeying a senior officer’s order given in accordance with the established procedure during the period of martial law or during an armed conflict or combat action, as well as refusing to partake in military or combat action, will be punishable by two to three years in prison (Art.332.2.1 of the Criminal Code of Russia).
- On 13 November it was revealed that a Russian citizen was cruelly executed with no investigation or trial. His head was tied to concrete with tape and hit with a sledgehammer. Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner PMC, hinted that his mercenaries did it. Maybe, this video was meant to intimidate the Russian mobilised citizens and prevent them from giving themselves up into captivity.
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