Roman Melnichenko, a lawyer accused of repeated discrediting of the Russian army, said he was offered to sign a contract and go to war against Ukraine while in a pre-trial detention center in Volgograd. After he refused, he was forced to run as punishment, the human rights project "For Human Rights" reported, citing a letter from Melnichenko.
Melnichenko, 53, a former lecturer at Volgograd State University, explained his refusal to the recruiter by saying he is ethnically Ukrainian. Details of the conversation and the circumstances of the punishment were not provided.
His lawyer Dmitry Sotnikov fears for his client's health. In the letter, Melnichenko said he filed a request with the head of the detention center to begin disability paperwork — his vision is minus 10 in one eye and minus 20 in the other.
The criminal case against Melnichenko was opened over a video lecture on international law and the situation of Ukrainian citizens. In late July, he was detained at home by officers of the Interior Ministry, the Federal Security Service (FSB), and the Special Rapid Response Unit (SOBR), and on July 22 a court sent him to the detention center until September 20.
In 2022, Melnichenko was dismissed from Volgograd State University after anti-war publications. Earlier, administrative protocols were drawn up against him, and in 2024 he was arrested for five days on charges of disobeying police.