More than 600 people demand to investigate activist Berezikov’s death in SIZO

An appeal to the Investigating Committee of the Russian Federation (ICRF) with a request to check reports about torture of Anatoly Berezikov in a SIZO (pre-trial prison) in Rostov-on-Don, investigate the circumstances of his death, and institute a criminal case was published on the website “Change.Org”. The petition was signed by 621 people.

The petition states that during visits of his advocate, Anatoly Berezikov complained about threats from the law enforcers to “imprison him for life” or take his life.

Anatoly Berezikov worked as an appliance repairman. He was also interested in noise music and performed at festivals. Earlier, the man took part in protest actions, including those in support of Alexei Navalny*, the “Mediazona”** reported.

Advocate Yevgeny Smirnov from the “First Department” human rights project believes that the law enforcement bodies carried out a series of arrests in order to coordinate the institution of a criminal case under the article on high treason.

*Alexei Navalny is a founder of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (known as FBK), an NCO that is included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of NCOs performing functions of a foreign agent. The NCO is also recognized by a court as extremist and banned in the territory of Russia. Navalny’s offices are recognized as extremist organizations and banned in Russia. On January 25, the “Rosfinmonitoring” (the Russian Federal Agency for Financial Monitoring) added Alexei Navalny to the register of extremists and terrorists.

**Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.