As reported by "OVD-Info"*, the initiation of a second criminal case in detention is one of many ways to keep a person behind bars longer than their sentence, and this is not a new practice. The administration can deliberately place a cellmate with the person to record everything they say, openly provoking conversations and risky statements. This was the case with municipal deputy Alexei Gorinov** and mathematician Azat Miftakhov**.
7 out of 14 people have both criminal cases under political articles, while another seven received their first sentence under domestic articles, and later in detention, they were given political charges for conversations with cellmates.
As noted by The Insider***, new cases can also be initiated for allegedly disorganizing the work of the colony with some harmless action, or even for fabricated events. This happened with Zarema Musaeva, who was charged with another case for allegedly attacking a colony employee. A similar accusation was made against journalist Maria Ponomarenko: she refused to go to a disciplinary commission where she was to be reprimanded, the colony staff forcibly took the political prisoner, after which the woman allegedly attacked them.
* Recognized in Russia as a "foreign agent".
** Included in the list of "terrorists and extremists".
*** Recognized in Russia as a "foreign agent" and "undesirable" organization.