Russian security forces search home of lawyer representing activist who died in prison

Russian security officials searched the home of Irina Gak, the lawyer who represented activist Anatoly Berezikov, who died in a prison in the country’s Rostov region last week, local media reported on Thursday morning.

Additionally, according to the human rights project OVD-Info, officers searched the home of activist Tatyana Sporysheva, who was in contact with Berezikov in the days leading up to his death.

The official reason for the searches is unclear. The Rostov-on-Don-based news site 1rnd.ru reported that the authorities plan to investigate Gak and Sporysheva for “knowingly disseminating false information.”

OVD-Info noted that Berezikov told Sporysheva shortly before his death that his personal belongings, including his bank card, disappeared after his arrest. Sporysheva also published an appeal from Gak on Telegram that alleged that an FSB officer came to Berezikov’s cell and threatened to arrest him again and open a criminal case against him.

On Wednesday, the Russian authorities opened a criminal case in connection with Berezikov’s death under the Criminal Code’s article against driving a person to suicide through threats, cruel treatment, or “systematic violation of human dignity.”