Exiled Siberian opposition politician Helga Pirogova reports police raids on relatives’ homes
Law enforcement officers in Novosibirsk searched the apartment of opposition City Council deputy Helga Pirogova, as well as her parents’ dacha, and the apartment of her husband’s parents, Pirogova reported on Twitter on Tuesday, August 16.
"I haven't been able to get in touch with my brother yet, he's probably been searched too," Pirogova added.
Pirogova fled abroad in July after a criminal case was opened against her for allegedly spreading “disinformation” about the Russian army. Writing on Twitter, she said that the raids on relatives’ homes have “nothing to do with justice” and were meant to “harass” the people around her.
The official reason for the searches is unknown. Lawyer Yegor Solunin told the Net Freedoms Project that the searches could either be related to the “fake news” case brought against Pirogova, or an extremism case brought against jailed opposition leader Alexey Navalny, in which Pirogova is considered a witness.
On July 21, Helga Pirogova was detained in Novosibirsk. She was charged with “discrediting” the Russian army because of a tweet about Russian volunteers killed in Ukraine, which she later deleted. The next day, the Investigative Committee opened an investigation against Pirogova for allegedly spreading ”fake news” about the army. If convicted, she could face up to three years in prison.
On July 25, reports emerged that Pirogova had left Russia for Tbilisi, Georgia. Russian authorities later put her name on a wanted list.