Journalist and Pussy Riot member Pyotr Verzilov arrested in Moscow

Pyotr Verzilov, a Pussy Riot member and the publisher of the independent legal news website Mediazona, has been arrested in Moscow.

Verzilov stated that he was being arrested in a tweet, saying that he was detained after leaving a broadcast at the Ekho Moskvy radio station. “They are carrying out a SIXTH search. The [Investigative Committee] is working,” he wrote.

Verzilov was detained and taken for interrogation at the end of June, as a witness in the “Moscow case” — a group of criminal cases against multiple suspects accused of various crimes connected to the protests in the lead up to the 2019 Moscow City Duma Elections. On this occasion, law enforcement broke down the door to his apartment and placed him under arrest. 

After the interrogation, Verzilov was attacked by a provocateur, and then sentenced to 15 days administrative arrest on “minor hooliganism” charges.

On July 6, reports emerged that a new case had been opened against Verzilov for failing to notify the authorities that he is a dual citizen. On July 7, a fifth search was carried out at his mother’s apartment.