France probes threats versus Russian jail rights activist
PARIS — French authorities are investigating loss of life threats towards a Russian legal rights activist who exposes abuses in Russian prisons and suggests he was the focus on of a possible assassination attempt at his home in France.
Vladimir Osechkin, founder of prisoners’ legal rights team Gulagu.net, suspects Russian security products and services of making an attempt to “shut his mouth” or scare him away from continuing his activism. His modern do the job has notably had one-way links to the Ukraine war.
Though carrying a plate of spaghetti to his two kids in the Atlantic coast metropolis of Biarritz very last 7 days, Osechkin explained he noticed a red dot look on the wall, tracing his movements. The loved ones dropped to the floor and went to a safe area. He stated law enforcement and neighbors listened to pictures in the vicinity. No one was hurt.
“Me and my colleagues … are observed like enemies of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, Putin’s regime,” Osechkin explained to The Related Press on Tuesday. “He needs to damage me.”
The prosecutor’s workplace for the location bordering Biarritz issued a statement Tuesday indicating that a preliminary investigation into dying threats against the activist is underway as aspect of broader measures to guarantee Osechkin’s safety.
“At this phase, there is no objective evidence that permits us to help the speculation of an assassination endeavor that could have specific Vladimir Osechkin very last 7 days,” the statement stated.
Osechkin has been less than French police defense for the earlier several months and had initially claimed dying threats to law enforcement in March. He was warned Sept. 9 of a new feasible danger to his existence.
He reported the incident on Sept. 12 could have been a “psychological attack” to scare him or a botched hard work to get rid of him. He stated he hopes further investigation clarifies what occurred and who was guiding it.
Russian officers have not publicly commented about him.
French nearby and national law enforcement and government ministries would not comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
Osechkin sought political asylum in France right after fleeing Russia beneath pressure from authorities more than his prison activism. Osechkin’s group routinely publishes films and accounts of alleged torture and corruption in Russian prisons, and he was amid the initially to reveal that Russia’s military services was recruiting prisoners to fight in Ukraine.
Gulagu.web also helped carry Russian fugitive paratrooper Pavel Filatiev to France very last thirty day period. Filatiev served in the Ukraine war before staying hurt, and later published accounts on the web of what he observed, accusing the Russian army leadership of betraying their very own troops out of incompetence and corruption.
When Osechkin explained being accustomed to stress from Russian authorities, he said the incident Sept. 12 produced him think about for the 1st time halting his do the job to shield his youngsters. But he reported offering up would only hand victory to Putin and his allies.
“It’s incredibly challenging for us and to our relatives, but I assume that we do not have the option. We have to have to end Putin and his regime,” he said. “It is not a battle versus Putin. It’s a fight towards totalitarianism. And we have to have to do a little something to acquire, to secure democracy and human rights and the foreseeable future of the Russian Federation.”
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Comply with AP protection of Russia’s war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
PARIS — French authorities are investigating loss of life threats towards a Russian legal rights activist who exposes abuses in Russian prisons and suggests he was the focus on of a possible assassination attempt at his home in France.
Vladimir Osechkin, founder of prisoners’ legal rights team Gulagu.net, suspects Russian security products and services of making an attempt to “shut his mouth” or scare him away from continuing his activism. His modern do the job has notably had one-way links to the Ukraine war.
Though carrying a plate of spaghetti to his two kids in the Atlantic coast metropolis of Biarritz very last 7 days, Osechkin explained he noticed a red dot look on the wall, tracing his movements. The loved ones dropped to the floor and went to a safe area. He stated law enforcement and neighbors listened to pictures in the vicinity. No one was hurt.
“Me and my colleagues … are observed like enemies of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, Putin’s regime,” Osechkin explained to The Related Press on Tuesday. “He needs to damage me.”
The prosecutor’s workplace for the location bordering Biarritz issued a statement Tuesday indicating that a preliminary investigation into dying threats against the activist is underway as aspect of broader measures to guarantee Osechkin’s safety.
“At this phase, there is no objective evidence that permits us to help the speculation of an assassination endeavor that could have specific Vladimir Osechkin very last 7 days,” the statement stated.
Osechkin has been less than French police defense for the earlier several months and had initially claimed dying threats to law enforcement in March. He was warned Sept. 9 of a new feasible danger to his existence.
He reported the incident on Sept. 12 could have been a “psychological attack” to scare him or a botched hard work to get rid of him. He stated he hopes further investigation clarifies what occurred and who was guiding it.
Russian officers have not publicly commented about him.
French nearby and national law enforcement and government ministries would not comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
Osechkin sought political asylum in France right after fleeing Russia beneath pressure from authorities more than his prison activism. Osechkin’s group routinely publishes films and accounts of alleged torture and corruption in Russian prisons, and he was amid the initially to reveal that Russia’s military services was recruiting prisoners to fight in Ukraine.
Gulagu.web also helped carry Russian fugitive paratrooper Pavel Filatiev to France very last thirty day period. Filatiev served in the Ukraine war before staying hurt, and later published accounts on the web of what he observed, accusing the Russian army leadership of betraying their very own troops out of incompetence and corruption.
When Osechkin explained being accustomed to stress from Russian authorities, he said the incident Sept. 12 produced him think about for the 1st time halting his do the job to shield his youngsters. But he reported offering up would only hand victory to Putin and his allies.
“It’s incredibly challenging for us and to our relatives, but I assume that we do not have the option. We have to have to end Putin and his regime,” he said. “It is not a battle versus Putin. It’s a fight towards totalitarianism. And we have to have to do a little something to acquire, to secure democracy and human rights and the foreseeable future of the Russian Federation.”
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Comply with AP protection of Russia’s war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine