Andrey Yedigarev

Former deputy of the City Duma in Glazov (Udmurtia). In 2022 he participated in the "Congress of People's Deputies of Russia" in Warsaw, Poland, after which he returned to Russia.

According to unconfirmed reports, Yedigarev was subjected to protocols several times under the administrative article of discrediting the Armed Forces (Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences), with the third protocol returned to the police by the court. The telegram channel "Tainiy Sovetnik" (Secret Advisor) claims that Yedigarev was also prosecuted for "committing fraudulent actions".

In the winter of 2023, Yedigarev was beaten up by unknown people, as news outlet "Vot Tak" reported, but the Investigative Committee refused to initiate a criminal case.

The criminal case of public justification of terrorism became known in May 2023. The grounds of initiating the case were three comments left in Telegram channel — about the need to overthrow the government, the bombing of a railway train and the "FSBshniki dynasty" (i.e. "dynasty of Federal Security Service's officers").

During the detention Yedigarev was beaten in the face, stomach and groin, as well as toppled in the mud with his face forward. He was taken into custody.

In November 2023, it was reported that a possible criminal case is planned to be initiated against the politician for cooperation on a confidential basis with a foreign state or organisation — presumably because of the connection with the "Congress of People's Deputies of Russia".
On 24 September 2024, Yedigarev was sentenced on the grounds of public justification of terrorism to three years' imprisonment in a general regime penal colony.

You can read more about politically persecuted people in the Telegram channel OVD-Info LIVE and our database of politically motivated criminal prosecutions.