Monthly Report on Human Rights violations in Udmurt Republic
October 2025
In October, authorities in the Udmurt Republic continued to systematically violate human rights. Repressive arrests and trials continue, and political rights, freedom of speech, the right to a safe environment, and the right to a fair trial continue to be violated. Meanwhile, environmental crimes and the cruel killing of animals remain unpunished.
A wheelchair-bound Izhevsk resident is on trial for threatening Putin online
On the last day of September, a hearing began in the Yekaterinburg District Military Court in a case of incitement to terrorism (Part 2 of Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code).
The defendant is Alexander Krichevsky, an Udmurt man and 58-year-old system administrator with a disability who uses a wheelchair. He was arrested for an online comment almost a year ago. Throughout this time, he has been denied medical care, kept in places not equipped for persons with disabilities, and denied the opportunity to undergo his annual medical examination.
Also, after his arrest, Alexander’s elderly mother, whom he was caring for, was sent to a nursing home, where she died a month later due to lack of care. A criminal case was opened against Krichevsky for a comment on a small blog with 300 followers by Chechen opposit
ion leader Tumso Abdurakhmanov. Alexander wrote of Tumso’s words:
“That’s why we listen to him, because he’s not afraid—a ray of freedom in the kingdom of darkness! And we will only destroy this darkness together, when we understand that we have one enemy—Putin and his FSB clique… You and we both need to destroy this enemy so that we can live as peaceful neighbors…”
https://zona.media/news/2025/09/30/tumso
On October 10, Votkinsk activist Ivan Merezhnikov’s house arrest was extended; later, spectators were not allowed into the courtroom for this case
As a reminder, he was arrested on June 11 on the absurd charge of “unauthorized access to information” (Article 272.1 of the Russian Criminal Code) for posting a photo of the car of the daughter of the head of Votkinsk online. The activist calls the charge absurd, since information about the license plates and makes of all citizens’ cars is publicly available. Over the past months, the investigation has found no new facts or any confirmation of the charges.
https://vk.com/votkinsk_news?w=wall-63969687_50480
On October 23, an appeal hearing was held. Ivan Merezhnikov’s supporters came to the court to support the activist, but they were not allowed into the courtroom. The court secretary told Merezhnikov that nobody asked to come in.
https://vk.com/votkinsk_news?w=wall-63969687_51040&ysclid=mhaf88hba4878938936
The prosecutor’s office sent the case of a man accused of treason for a photograph to court
A 44-year-old resident of Udmurtia is accused of treason for taking photographs and videos on the street, which included a building and cars near a government agency.
According to the prosecution, the photographs of the building were purchased by the Ukrainian secret service for 10,000 rubles. A report about this case appeared on the Udmurtia Prosecutor’s Office Telegram channel.
https://t.me/udmproc/2377
Dmitry Talantov’s Appeal
On October 23, the hearing of Dmitry Talantov’s appeal against the sentence for “fakes” about the army (Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code) and incitement to hatred (Article 282 of the Russian Criminal Code) began.
On November 28, 2024, Judge Denis Metelyagin of the Zavyalovsky District Court of Udmurtia sentenced Dmitry Talantov, head of the Udmurtia Bar Association, to seven years in prison for two comments on social media.
https://t.me/udmprotivcor/9413
Video of the arrest of a lawyer in Udmurtia was published online
V.A. Radchenko, a lawyer from the Udmurtia Bar Association, was arrested. He is charged under Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code with “Organizing the Activities of a Terrorist Organization and Participating in the Activities of Such an Organization.” Video of his arrest was posted online, showing Radchenko, who offered no resistance, being forced face down to the ground and having his arms twisted behind his back while being handcuffed. The FSB reported that he “had a negative attitude toward the SWO and the Russian leadership, justified sabotage at defense industry facilities, and repeatedly expressed support for the armed groups and the Ukrainian government.” It also stated that “the defendant proactively established contact with a representative of a Ukrainian terrorist organization and passed on to its representatives information crucial to the country’s defense capability.” The FSB did not specify what information was being referred to.
https://t.me/udmprotivcor/9404?single
Conscripts from Udmurtia are insuring themselves against forced mobilization for SWO
At the end of October, a video featuring Maxim Antonovich Shishkin, born August 18, 2005, from Izhevsk, Udmurt Republic, was published on the Telegram channel “Don’t Expect Good News.” In the video, Maxim, who was called up for conscription, states that if a contract signed in his name appears, it could be considered fraudulent, involving forged signatures, threats, or physical violence. Such videos of conscripts insuring themselves against forced mobilization for SWO have become commonplace in the ethnic republics of the Russian Federation.
https://t.me/ne_zhdi_novosti/3919
Izhevsk City Duma deputies broke their campaign promises a month after being elected and approved an undemocratic procedure for electing mayors
On October 14, just a month after the elections, Izhevsk City Duma deputies voted on a new procedure for electing the mayor. While previously any Udmurt resident could submit a candidacy for mayor, now, according to the new procedure, they can choose from two candidates, both nominated by the regional governor, who is directly appointed by Putin.
https://t.me/udmprotivcor/9318?single
https://t.me/udmprotivcor/9313
In the village of Uralsky in the Sarapulsky District, the air is contaminated with Class 1 hazardous chemical waste, but authorities are ignoring the situation
For eight years, a waste processing plant operated by the Ecogarant company near the village of Uralsky. Under official permission, they processed oil waste. However, according to numerous testimonies from local residents, the air in the village was constantly contaminated with chemicals, and the incidence of cancer and other diseases increased. A test revealed Class 1 hazardous substances in the air.
The plant was closed by court order. However, all the waste remained there, near the village of Uralskoye. No one cleans it up, guards it, or bothers to remove it.
https://t.me/udmprotivcor/9392
A sadistic SWO veteran beat a dog to death with a sledgehammer in Udmurtia
The abandoned dog, apparently previously kept in an apartment and with basic training, was found wandering along the road between Zagrebino and the station of Loza, and was taken in by a local resident, a SWO veteran, in September.
Later, at his birthday party, he and his accomplice (who, according to locals, periodically kills cats and dogs), murdered the good-natured dog with particular cruelty: the sadists stabbed him with a knife and beat him with a sledgehammer.
Animal rights activists filed a complaint under Article 245 of the Russian Criminal Code (cruelty to animals). However, according to human rights activists, local police are extremely reluctant to initiate criminal cases under Article 245 of the Criminal Code.
https://vk.com/club219544779?w=wall-219544779_13527
https://t.me/udmprotivcor/9448?single