One of the last remaining opposition figures in the Urals, Russian dissident Yevgueni Roizman, the former mayor of Yekaterinburg, was arrested Wednesday on charges of “discrediting” the army, Russian news agencies reported.
Roizman, 59, was “arrested in the early morning hours” at his home in Yekaterinburg, the official TASS agency reported, citing an official from the local security forces.
The same source said, “An investigation has been launched against him for tarnishing the reputation of the Russian army.”
According to a video posted by the Mash channel on Telegram, about ten police officers arrived at the rival’s house in the morning.
Police prevented Roizman’s lawyer, Vladislav Idamjapov, from entering his client’s home, where the search was ongoing, TASS reported.
“This is a violation of the right of defence,” said Idamjapov, quoted by TASS.
Image: STRINGER/REUTERS
From his own perspective, Roizman told reporters that the investigation into “discrediting” the military began in Moscow.
Therefore, Roizman, who was the mayor of Yekaterinburg from 2013 to 2018, can be transferred to Moscow.
According to a police source quoted by TASS, the investigation opened after Roizman posted a video on his YouTube channel denouncing the Russian attack in Ukraine.
So far, Roizman has been fined three times for opposing the Ukrainian offensive.
source: Noticias
