Volgograd scientist persecuted for publications about Ukraine

After his publications about events in Ukraine, the prosecutor's office accused Roman Melnichenko, an associate professor of the Volgograd State University (VolSU), of distributing fakes, while university lawyers saw signs of agitation among students in his actions. His advocate has pointed out that the protocol on Mr Melnichenko's offence was drawn up with violations.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that protests against the actions of Russian militaries in Ukraine have been held in Volgograd since February 24, 2022. After March 4, when the administrative liability was introduced for discrediting the Russian Armed Forces, protesting activists, including those in Volgograd, began to be prosecuted under this article.

The scientist Roman Melnichenko has explained that on March 28 he posted two videos about the events in Ukraine in his page in the "VKontakte" social network and accompanied one of them with a comment. "The prosecutor's office sent a letter to the VolSU reading that Melnichenko was spreading news that does not correspond to reality," Roman has explained.

He has added that he is "a very reserved person," but his parents are in the Ukrainian city of Nikopol. At the university, according to his story, people talked about his dismissal.

He has agreed that, while being an educator, he has no right to impose his political position on students. But he added that his elderly parents are in Ukraine; and this fact affects his psychological condition and actions.