Former municipal deputy of the Donskoy district of Moscow, Vladimir Zalishchak, who left Russia after the December searches of three municipal deputies and several journalists, told The Insider how this search went on at his place and whether he is really connected with former State Duma deputy Ilya Ponomarev.
According to Zalishchak, on December 29, at five in the morning, the police came to his house, about 15 people, and then “a classic situation with a mask show and breaking down doors, and hands behind his back” began. The investigator's warrant for the search stated that Zalischak was connected with Ilya Ponomarev, but the status was not defined in the resolution, only information about the search.
“They didn’t ask me about Ponomarev, and I said that I had nothing to do with him. There was nothing more about Ponomarev, only my phone and my personal notes were seized. I did not continue to tempt fate and on the same day I left for Belarus, and from Minsk I flew to Turkey, where I am now. I am not familiar with Ponomarev and did not take part in the congress, I heard about him from the media. Therefore, for me it is a somewhat unexpected situation that the accusation is based precisely on ties with Ponomarev. I see that this was such a broad excuse that the law enforcement officers found to come after people with an active position who are consistently engaged in the fight against the undemocratic regime. This is how a non-legal seine is thrown and tries to catch something there.
Zalishchak noted that he would not give up his political activities, despite emigration. According to him, the departure allows you to openly blog, social networks and a YouTube channel.
“I will not give up the fight. I just arrived, so I need to get my life right for now. I don’t know what country it will be in the end, maybe European, but I remain an active participant in the opposition process.”
Searches on the morning of December 29 also took place at the home of ex-mundep Sergei Tsukasov and ex-candidate for the State Duma, associate professor Mikhail Lobanov. Artur Galiev, a journalist for 72.ru, also reported on the search. The editor-in-chief of the media from Ugra 86.ru Nikita Kiforuk was detained, all his equipment was confiscated, but he was later released.
Mikhail Lobanov was beaten, all his equipment was taken from him. On January 5, it became known that Lobanov had a bruised chest and bruises. According to his wife, he was able to undergo a medical examination "seemingly by a lucky chance," since the special detention center had an ambulance, and the doctors took him to the emergency room. Lobanov was arrested for 15 days, he is in a special detention center.
The searches of the former Mundeps are connected with the case of Ilya Ponomarev, primarily because the security forces themselves mention his name. A case was opened against him under the article “on fakes” about the RF Armed Forces. This happened after Ponomarev organized a "Congress of People's Deputies" in Poland, where, among other things, the assassination of Putin was discussed. Read more about the "Congress" here .