Acquaintances of Rostov activist Berezikov disbelieve suicide version

Anatoly Berezikov, an activist, who has died at the special detention centre in Rostov-on-Don, was notable for his active life position; he was a volunteer at the Navalny's* office and a non-indifferent person, his acquaintances, who don’t believe that he could commit suicide, as law enforcers assert, have stated.

Berezikov had worked as an equipment repairman; he was interested in noise music, and performed at festivals under the pseudonym of Anatoly Ryk. He took part in protests. Evgeny Smirnov, another advocate, has suggested that law enforcers needed a series of arrests in order to initiate a criminal case under the treason article.

In 2017, Berezikov joined the Rostov office of Alexei Navalny*. He was an "active volunteer": he spread leaflets, took part in rallies and observed the 2018 presidential election. Then, he was detained for the first time – for spreading leaflets – and fined, said Vadim Kobzev, a former employee of the above office.

In the spring of 2021, Navalny’s* office in Rostov-on-Don was closed, but Berezikov still went to rallies. Kobzev has stressed that Berezikov "had a firm civic position."

On May 11, 2023, law enforcers came to Berezikov's home and seized his computer equipment during the search. Anatoly himself was kicked; he suspected a broken rib.

This was followed by two arrests – for disobeying the police for 10 days, and for petty hooliganism for 15 days. He was due to be released on May 31, says Tatyana Sporysheva, an activist, who acted as his public defender in court.

The reason for Berezikov’s detention was his posting of flyers with a QR code that led to the website of the project of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence (MoD) entitled "I want to live" said Berezikov’s neighbour at the special detention centre.

Berezikov's acquaintances do not believe in the version of his suicide; they state that it is "not in his nature." Ms Sporysheva suggests that law enforcers could "have overdone it", which caused Berezikov's heart to stop.

The "Caucasian Knot" has also reported that on June 22 this year, law enforcers searched the homes of Irina Gak, one of Berezikov's advocates, and of Tatiana Sporysheva, an activist. A few days later, Gak and Sporysheva left for Georgia.

*Navalny's offices are recognized as extremist organizations and banned in Russia. 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.