On 28 July, 2023, there was an explosion at the Kuibyshev oil refinery. On the same day, Sergei Okrushko, a 42-year-old native of Ukraine who worked as an electrician at the refinery, was arrested while trying to leave Russia, on the border with Kazakhstan. The Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a criminal case against Sergei under Article 281 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Sabotage”). A court in Samara sent him to a pre-trial detention centre (SIZO).
Sergei Okrushko made a confession while giving evidence. At the court hearing on the conditions of his detention, Sergei said that he takes an anti-war position and undertook his action for political reasons.
It has also become known that Sergei had previously tried to go to Ukraine, but had not been allowed to enter the country because he has a Russian passport. Sergei spent some time in Moldova, and several times participated in anti-war actions there.
As a result of the explosion at the Kuibyshev oil refinery, not one person was injured. But the prosecution has valued the damage done at 30 million rubles (≈€ 300 000).
The Kuibyshev oil refinery is the largest enterprise in the Samara Region, refining about 7 million tons of oil per year. The refinery specializes in the production of fuel for all types of transport: from automobile to marine.
On 3 August Sergei Okrushko declined representation by Zakhar Lebedev, a lawyer who works with Solidarity Zone — although, two days previously, Sergei had asked Lebedev to represent him. When Sergei was writing a letter declining Lebedev’s support, Lebedev saw that Sergei had fresh injuries. He said: “I noticed purple colouring on his left arm — that is, most of the upper arm and forearm. Clearly these were haematomas [bleeding under the skin, bruising], that had not been there on the 1st of August when I visited him at the SIZO”.
We consider that these new haematomas, and the sudden and unexplained decision not to work with Lebedev, are evidence of torture used against Sergei Okrushko between 1 August and 3 August.
After that date, no lawyer was allowed to see Sergei at the SIZO, except Viacheslav Pavelkin, who was appointed by the investigating officers. Later it became known that Sergei Okrushko was taken several times to the FSB, without any lawyer.
Unfortunately, we can not at present provide legal support to Sergei Okrushko. But at the very start we sent him a parcel with food and clothes, ordered books for him, ordered items at the prison service shop and sent funds to his personal account at the SIZO. Not long ago we learned that Sergei received all of this: that means we can, at least, provide him with a minimal level of humanitarian support. In the next few days we will again put together a parcel for Sergei and continue to support him in every way that we can.
Solidarity zone aims to ensure that those who are behind bars, accused of taking anti-war actions, are not left to face the system alone. We are not always able to give the full range of support, as our efforts are counteracted by the security services. But we believe that any reduction of the harm done by the state is an honorable result.
HOW TO HELP
Address for letters and parcels:
443022, г. Самара, Садовый проезд, д. 22, СИЗО-1,
Окрушко Сергей Александрович 01.03.1981 г.р
It is possible to send letters through the electronic service «Зонателеком».
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