The human rights project 'First Department'* became aware of a criminal case of 'treason' against geophysicist and archaeologist Andrey Veryanov, who has been in Lefortovo detention center for over a year. Veryanov was detained on December 5, 2023, in Moscow on charges of 'treason', the details of the case are unknown. For more than 20 years, the scientist lived and worked in Peru, working on the study of Sacsayhuamán — a citadel and temple complex of the Incas in the city of Cusco. He made a number of important discoveries that helped to understand the nature of the destruction of the ancient Indian capital.
In 2019, he came to Russia to care for a close relative.
Human rights activists suggest that the reason for his detention could have been 'one of the protests against the invasion of Ukraine'. 'Since being in the Russian Federation, I could not accept the nightmare into which the country plunged. I participated in protests and rallies as much as I could. When he started the war, I tried to resist, sought like-minded people', wrote Veryanov from the detention center.
On his social networks, the scientist published opposition content, for example, reposted on 'Odnoklassniki' publications with photos from a rally in support of Alexei Navalny** in January 2021.
Currently, the geophysicist is teaching other detainees Spanish, and he has no relatives or close ones left in Russia.
* Recognized as a 'foreign agent' in Russia.
** Included in the list of 'extremists and terrorists'.
Photo: First Department