Russian FSB tampered with evidence against jailed anti-war teen – Mediazona

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) falsified evidence against a 15-year-old schoolboy jailed last week on terrorism charges, according to independent media outlet Mediazona. reported Thursday, citing elements of the file.

A Moscow military court order Arseni Turbin will spend five years in a juvenile prison for “participation in terrorist activities”. He was accused of trying to join the Russian Freedom Legion, a militia made up of Russian nationals fighting on the side of Ukraine, which the Russian Supreme Court ruled. designated as a terrorist organization.

Turbin denied the accusations and the Russian Freedom Legion said he did not. accept members under the age of 18.

Russian human rights association Memorial recognized Turbin as a political prisoner, making him the youngest activist to receive this designation.

According to Mediazona, FSB agents claimed that Turbin admitted during an interrogation – which was recorded – that he was “considering joining the legion and sending a completed questionnaire.”

But a transcript of the interrogation published by Mediazona shows that Turbin made no such admission despite attempts by FSB agents to convince him.

“I would have joined [the Freedom of Russia Legion]” Turbin reportedly said, adding that he chose not to submit the questionnaire out of fear of sharing personal information with strangers.

“After all, I don’t know these people,” the teenager said during the two-hour interrogation which took place in August 2023.

Turbin was arrested the following month based on elements of the file submitted by the FSB, Mediazona wrote.

The independent news site Novaya Gazeta Europe reported On Wednesday, the previous investigator had sought to close the case against Turbin, but it was reassigned to another investigator.

Last fall, Russia's state financial watchdog added Turbin to its list of “terrorists and extremists.”