Davydkovo:

Throughout his trial, Anatoly Berezikov repeatedly Stated he was afraid of “disappearing”. Two weeks later, on June 14, he was discovered useless in his cell in southwest Russia.

Berezikov is the primary identified critic of the Ukraine battle to have died in custody for the reason that Kremlin launched large-scale hostilities in February 2022.

The circumstances of his demise are unclear, however the trigger given by authorities is suicide.

His pals and allies dismiss that account, saying they consider Berezikov was tortured in detention — a typical occurence within the Russian penal system — probably resulting in his demise.

“Individuals may be repressed with out trial or investigation. They’ll kidnap you, imprison you, search you, intimidate you, torture you and kill you,” Tatiana Sporycheva, a rights activist who advocated on behalf of Berezikov, instructed AFP.

In Rostov in southern Russia, Berezikov had developed a repute as a cheerful non-conformist, a lover of experimental music and staunch critic of Russian chief Vladimir Putin.

He was one amongst 1000’s of individuals in Russia to have spoken out in opposition to the battle and subsequently been threatened, fined or jailed.

Quick, consecutive jail phrases

Born in 1983 within the Siberian metropolis of Biysk, Berezikov moved to Rostov within the 2010s, the place he was lively within the cultural underground scene.

“He labored as a tattooist and body-piercer. He made tattooing machines and bought them,” a good friend instructed AFP on the situation of anonymity.

Berezikov’s pals and allies have additionally been pursued by safety providers.

Together with his expertise for tinkering, Berezikov additionally constructed analogue synthesisers for his experiments in “noise music”.

“He was a God-given technician,” stated fellow musician Valentin Sokhorev, 52.

Berezikov regarded all over the place for spare components.

In a 2019 photograph, he can been seen at a snow coated flea market sporting simply shorts, his chest naked. The skimpy combo was Berezikov’s ordinary uniform.

Within the southern metropolis of Rostov-on-Don, the 40-year-old with a beard and lengthy blond hair rode across the metropolis shirtless on his bike.

Berezikov was additionally an activist for main opposition determine Alexei Navalny’s anti-corruption motion.

By default, that made him an opponent of Russia’s navy intervention in Ukraine.

He claimed to have put up posters from the Ukrainian marketing campaign “I Wish to Dwell”, which presents Russian troopers steering on find out how to give up.

Berezikov was arrested in Might by police and given three quick Consecutive Jail Phrases for alleged misdemeanours, mirroring a development deployed in opposition to Kremlin critics earlier than severe fees are introduced.

In custody, Berezikov was crushed and tortured with electrical shocks, his legal professionals stated.

Activist Sporycheva noticed him in court docket on Might 31, and made a video clip of Berezikov wanting exhausted.

“He had misplaced a whole lot of weight. He saved saying, ‘They wish to take me away. I’ll disappear and nobody will discover me'”, she stated.

Berezikov died on June 14 having hung himself in his cell, officers stated. However no professional medical evaluation has been made public.

Authorities have nevertheless opened an investigation into potential abuses that would have led to the alleged suicide.

Sporycheva and lawyer Irina Gak, who’ve additionally been wanting into Berezikov’s demise, have left Russia within the wake of threats they obtained from safety providers.

Now a lawyer from the Russian human rights NGO Pervy Otdel has taken up their efforts however is engaged on the file anonymously. Berezikov’s household don’t converse to the press for causes of safety.

‘Hornet’s nest’

Musician Sokhorev, who noticed himself almost as an older brother to Berezikov, stated he tried for a very long time to persuade the tattooist to swear off activism.

“I stated to him, ‘My good friend, you should not do this. If you happen to wave your ass in entrance of a hornet’s nest, anticipate them to sting you very onerous. So do not do it’. However he did not see that, he did not see the hazard,” Sokhorev stated.

“He was courageous, however mad,” the musician added.

Sokhorev himself noticed tanks fireplace on the parliament in Moscow throughout Russia’s bloody constitutional disaster in 1993. Disgusted by the occasions, he turned his again on politics.

“I understood that on this nation, the one who is correct is the individual with tanks. Since 1996, I don’t vote anymore,” stated Sokhorev, who lives within the village of Davydkovo, close to Moscow, the place he tends to his vegetable backyard.

On the porch of his home, surrounded by his 4 canine, he plugged in one of many synthesisers made by his good friend.The instrument makes a shrill digital sound.

Sokhorev stated some folks expertise a “sense of calm” listening to the storm of noises produced by the machine — amongst them was Berezikov.

(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)