On March 6, 2022, Zhuchkov and Sergeev went to an anti-war demonstration in Moscow. However, the police detained them on their way: in the area of Pushkinskaya Square. Molotov cocktails were found in Sergeyev's backpack, and the men were taken to the police station.
During the detention, Anton and Vladimir managed to take lethal doses of methadone: that day they planned to commit political suicide. So, the end point of the route changed from the department to the hospital of the N. V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute, where friends were pumped out. A week later they were sent to jail.
In the photo, Zhuchkov is on the left, Sergeev is on the right.
Initially, a criminal case was opened on “attempted hooliganism with the use of a weapon” (part 1 of article 30, part 2 of article 213 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), but later the charge was reclassified as “preparation of a terrorist attack” (part 1 of article 30, paragraph "a" part 2 article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). On these charges, Anton and Vladimir face up to 10 years in prison.
In his testimony, Anton Zhuchkov stated that he did not intend to harm anyone, but only wanted to commit suicide: “I took [methadone] so as not to see what was happening in the world: the war in Ukraine, the events in the Donbass, I was also afraid of a nuclear war . Therefore, I wanted to take my own life so as not to see what would happen next, including worrying that young people would live in poverty”, he said during interrogation.
In December, Anton was charged with another charge — "sale of drugs". Despite the fact that, for obvious reasons, the investigators did not see methadone, the investigation stated that the amount was “significant” and charged under paragraph “b” of Part 3 of Art. 228.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. This article provides from 8 to 15 years in prison.
Based on the totality of the charges, Anton Zhuchkov can be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of up to 22.5 years.
Zhuchkov's lawyer Dmitry Sotnikov, commenting on the case in December, stressed that the basis for reclassifying the case from "hooliganism" to "terrorist attack" and charging Zhuchkov with "drug trafficking" was Vladimir Sergeev's "voluntary surrender" without a lawyer.
Vladimir Sergeev initially admitted that before committing suicide, he wanted to set fire to empty police vans in protest against the war. Sergeev's lawyer Svetlana Zavodtsova reports that these statements were given under pressure and without a lawyer. Currently, Vladimir does not give any testimonies.
“When the war began, including the economic one, it became unbearable for me to watch the news feed”, writes Vladimir. “It is unbearable to watch how well-fed people from their comfortable apartments approve of what is happening, order to bomb and kill”.
Solidarity Zone provides Zhuchkov with comprehensive support, including paying for a lawyer and sending parcels. Solidarity Zone helps Sergeev and his relatives with consulting and information.
You can also transfer funds to support Zhuchkov and Sergeev to PayPal and Solidarity Zone crypto wallets with the obligatory indication of the purpose of the payment:
PayPal: solidarity_zone@riseup.net
Cryptocurrency (write to us at solidarity_zone@riseup.net if you transfer cryptocurrency to support Sergeev or Zhuchkov): here or here.
Address for letters:
127055, Moscow, Novoslobodskaya st., 45, SIZO-2,
Zhuchkov Anton Alexandrovich, born in 1983
Sergeev Vladimir Andreevich, born in 1985
It is possible to send via the electronic service "FSIN-pismo" (sending from anywhere in the world, subject to payment by a Russian card) and the volunteer resource "Rosuznik" (sending from anywhere in the world and the ability to remain anonymous).
How to write a letter to a prisoner if you are not in Russia?
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