Allegations of Persecution and Abuse of Power

Criminal Charges and Procedural Violations

• Abuse of Official Powers: Alleged under Part 1, Article 285 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
• Criminal Case Initiation:
  • Grounds were fabricated for initiating a criminal case under Part 1, Article 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
  • For the last three counts of the crime, criminal cases were initiated without any grounds whatsoever, described as being "out of thin air," in violation of the Criminal Procedure Code of the RSFSR.

Context of Persecution

The initiation of the criminal case against the author, currently under investigation number 240 by the Investigative Service of the UFSB of the RF for the city of Moscow and the Moscow Region, is believed to be a continuation of persecution by the leadership of the FSB of the RF.

The primary target of this alleged persecution is the Director of the FSB of the RF, N.P. Patrushev, due to:
1. The author's principled position in the fight against Chechen extremism during 1995-1996.
2. A court case won in 1998.

Specific Incidents (December 1995)

In December 1995, under the author's leadership, a major operation was conducted in Moscow to apprehend a group of Chechen-Dudaevites led by Visrudi Novikov during an extortion attempt involving a large sum of money.

Key details of the operation:
* The group included three individuals against whom there was witness testimony regarding their involvement in the murders and torture of Russian soldiers in Chechnya.
* 13 people were detained at the scene of the extortion.
* The case could not be fully resolved due to a deliberate obstruction of work initiated by certain leaders of the FSB of Russia, specifically: M.I. Barsukov, N.D. Kovalev, and N.P. Patrushev.
* It was revealed that high-ranking officials from the GRU GS MO RF (Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation) and the FSB of the RF were involved behind the Chechen criminals (some of whom were subsequently tried).

Obstruction and Internal Investigation

• The author was prevented from working despite a personal request from the former head of the GUOP (Main Directorate for Organized Crime), V.B. Rushailo, to the former Director of the FSK (Federal Counterintelligence Service) of Russia, M.I. Barsukov.

• An internal investigation was initiated against the author.

  • Stated Purpose: Not to objectively understand the situation (which was already clear).
  • Actual Purpose: To use the forces of 4 departments of the FSB of Russia to find compromising material and force the author's resignation from the security agencies.
  • Departments Involved:
    • USB (Internal Security Department)
    • UFSB of the RF for the city of Moscow and the Moscow Region
    • UK (Personnel Department)
    • OIU (Operational Inspection Department)
  • Procedural Violation: The investigation lasted two years instead of the 10 days required by law.
  • Outcome: No findings were made, yet a punishment was issued, alleging that the author was abusing their official position by detaining Chechen militant-criminals.

• In 1995-1996, all forces of the FSB of the RF, at the suggestion of the head of the USB, were involved.