In Tula, FSB officers conducted a search at the home of civil activist Ivan Surov, seized his equipment, and took him to an unknown location. This was reported on October 23 by «OVD-Info»* public defender Alexey Vlasov. A few hours later, it became known that he was charged with «treason». A few days later, the court sent him to pre-trial detention.
In April, Surov's premises were already inspected with the seizure of equipment and bank cards, after which he was taken for questioning to the regional FSB office. As Surov himself said at the time, the reason was two money transfers to Arkady Babchenko*, sent before 2022. The security forces stated that they needed to ensure that Surov «no longer transfers money to the Armed Forces of Ukraine».
The computer, phone, and router were never returned to the activist, and no criminal case was initiated, even though the investigation period ended in mid-May. Today, the activist's equipment, purchased after the previous search, was seized.
Surov's acquaintances associate his persecution with his participation in the elections. In 2023, he took a ballot from the polling station and subsequently filed a complaint with the prosecutor's office regarding falsification, as this fact was not recorded in the final protocol on the «GAS-Elections» website. After receiving formal replies, he filed a lawsuit against the prosecutor's office.
* Recognized as «foreign agents» in Russia.