Russian activist who disappeared in Georgia in October found in Russian jail, facing terrorism charges

Rafail Shepelev, a Russian activist who went missing in Georgia on October 12, had been located in a Russian prison in the city of Nizhny Tagil.

According to the human rights organization Department One, Russian law enforcement officers deceived Shepelev into going from Tbilisi to the breakaway region of South Ossetia, where he was detained. He was then transported to the Russian city of Vladikavkaz, where a local court sentenced him to 15 days in jail for disorderly conduct.

While serving that sentence, Shepelev was reportedly charged with involvement in a terrorist organization and justifying terrorism. He was then transferred to a pre-trial detention center in Nizhny Tagil.