The FSB Version

But here is what's interesting. In the course of the investigation into the series of terrorist attacks in Moscow, official FSB officials did not say a word about the "Volunteers of Russia" or their appeal. Although, from the point of view of common sense, this version should have become one of the priorities for the investigation. Apparently, the "committee members" were looking exclusively for a "Chechen trail" in the attacks. So that there would be something to "waste them in the outhouse." Or maybe, as some in the West say, they blew up the houses themselves. Then we have no questions for the FSB at all. One could also assume that the FSB simply did not want to, so to speak, "expose" this version. Like, it's a secret of the investigation. However, here too, the author of the note discovered some oddities. I managed not only to find the "Volunteers of Russia" but also to talk to their ideological leaders. It turns out that "Volunteers of Russia" is not an extremist organization at all and is not of a radical nature. Quite the opposite. This large youth organization pursues exclusively humane goals. It fights for the environment, helps the elderly and the disabled. But that's not even the point. As Svetlana Ryzhkova, director of the Moscow Center for Volunteering, responsibly stated to me, FSB officers never visited their office, let alone conducted raids or searches. Complete mysteries.

Of course, the FSB Directorate for Moscow and the Moscow Region does not forget anything just like that. They remembered the "volunteers'" appeal 9 months after the terrorist attacks. They even opened a criminal case. What article do you think? Article 207 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation: "Knowingly false report of a terrorist act." It turns out there were no terrorist attacks at all. As follows from FSB documents, "during operational-search measures and investigative actions," the authors of the appeal were identified. And in November 2000, one of them was charged in absentia. Who is he?

The accused was "searched for" for more than a year. They tapped phones and conducted physical surveillance. Everything as it should be. They took him on January 15, 2002. At that time, Anatoly Viktorovich Mylnikov, head of the economic security service of one of the large capital companies, was arrested in his office. The main basis for the detention was the testimony of a certain citizen Tumasyan, who reported that the text of the appeal was prepared by a close acquaintance of Natalya Zander, Anatoly Viktorovich Mylnikov. On the same day, he was imprisoned in the FSB's "Lefortovo" pre-trial detention center.

The Accused's Version

Mylnikov spent more than six months in the SIZO. Not long ago, he was released. On bail of thirty thousand rubles and a recognizance not to leave. Anatoly categorically denies his guilt and believes that the case is completely fabricated. Moreover, Mylnikov believes that the FSB had no right to initiate a criminal case against him at all. In accordance with the resolution of the State Duma and the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation "On the declaration of amnesty in connection with the 55th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-45." However, Mylnikov was not released. He was accused of a more serious sin and charged under Article 205 "Terrorism." Amnesty does not apply to this article.

So why does the FSB need Mylnikov? He has a special opinion on this matter, which he shared with me during a recent meeting.

As Anatoly believes, in this way the FSB is trying to put pressure on him because he knows the true perpetrators of the terrorist attacks.

Who are they? Mylnikov, like some in the West, believes that the traces of the Moscow explosions lead towards Lubyanka. According to him, in July 1999, an acquaintance who was noticed to have links with the FSB suggested that he participate in "serious actions." He did not specify which ones. For communication, he left him a pager. Strange messages arrived on the pager before each explosion: "tomorrow there will be fireworks." Anatoly never explained to me why these messages were sent to him. According to him, he never hid from the FSB. And he was arrested only more than a year after the charges were filed for one simple reason. According to Mylnikov, after the disgraced oligarch Boris Berezovsky openly accused the FSB of the apartment bombings, Lubyanka was given the command to "urgently clean up the ends." That is, to eliminate witnesses. That's when they remembered him.