Timofei Rudenko has been arrested and detained multiple times over the summer for various misdemeanors, according to Russian court records. He was released after serving 10-15 day sentences each time, only to be immediately apprehended again for a new minor offense. Rudenko’s mother claims that he was targeted because he had posted criticism of the war in Ukraine on social media. On July 21, Rudenko was arrested for justifying terrorism on the internet, a more serious crime that could result in up to seven years in prison. However, his mother insists that he denies all the alleged crimes.
According to three human rights lawyers, Rudenko’s experience is an example of “carousel arrests,” where individuals are repeatedly arrested for minor offenses on the same day they finish serving jail terms, keeping them in near-constant custody. While consecutive jailings are not illegal in Russia, this practice allows investigators to go through a person’s online activity and potentially open more serious criminal cases. There have been seven identified cases of carousel arrests this year, with suspects being arrested and jailed two to five times in succession.
Since the conflict in Ukraine, Russia has tightened its laws to curb public criticism of the war. Crimes such as spreading “fake news” about alleged Russian atrocities or discrediting the army can lead to imprisonment for years. In response to questions about the crackdown on dissent, Russian President Vladimir Putin defended the arrests, stating a need to follow certain rules for success in the conflict zone.
Carousel arrests were less common before the war and mainly targeted dissidents, opposition politicians, and protest groups. According to experts, Russian authorities are experimenting with different tactics to curb dissent while still prosecuting cases by the book. In another case, a woman named Leniye Umerova was arrested and detained four times before being flown to Moscow and arrested on espionage charges. Her brother believes she was targeted because she criticized the war in Ukraine online and posted about the persecution of Crimean Tatars.
Not all carousel arrests lead to more serious charges, and some detainees find the experience frightening enough. For example, Dmitry Golovlyov, who tied helium balloons to a flag of the Freedom of Russia Legion, was arrested and sentenced to 15 days for hooliganism. After leaving jail, he was detained again and sentenced to another 15 days for demonstrating extremist symbols. Although not charged a third time, he was left scared by the situation.
Timofei Rudenko, a former military psychologist, remains in custody in Moscow, and a trial date for justifying terrorism has not been set. His mother believes the outcome will be unfavorable.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
