Only three of the eight defendants in the Angarsk prison torture case have been convicted

The Angarsk City Court in the Irkutsk Region has sentenced three defendants in the case of torture in Pretrial Detention Center No. 6 in Angarsk, following the suppression of the riot at Penal Colony No. 15 in April 2020. Alexander Aniskov and Vladimir Reshchikov, inmate "activists" acting on orders from prison guards, as well as Dmitry Baroyan, former deputy head of the prison regime and supervision department, were found guilty of sexual assault. Aniskov received 12 years in a maximum-security penal colony, Reshchikov received five years, and Baroyan received six years.

It is reported that after the riot, prisoners from Penal Colony No. 15 were transferred to the pretrial detention center for interrogation, where they were subjected to torture to extract confessions. Initially, there were eight defendants in the case, but five, including an FSIN employee, signed contracts with the Ministry of Defense and left for the "SVO" before the verdict.

One of the victims of the riot was identified as Chechen prisoner Khumay Khaidayev. This year, he was sentenced to 17 years in prison on charges under Parts 1 and 2 of Article 212 of the Russian Criminal Code (mass riots) and Part 3 of Article 321 of the Criminal Code (disorganization of institutions providing isolation from society). Khumay Khaidayev suffered a total of 29 injuries: closed fractures of his fingers, bruises, abrasions, and subcutaneous hemorrhages all over his body. He denied charges of organizing the riot, calling on prisoners to injure themselves, and beating a prisoner at Correctional Colony No. 15. He noted that he only had six months left before his release, and on the day of the riot, one of the guards tried to provoke him with questions about religion.

In 2022, a court in Irkutsk upheld the refusal to open a criminal case for the torture suffered by Khaidaev. According to him, he was abused in Irkutsk's Pretrial Detention Center No. 1, where he was transferred after suppressing a prisoner riot. He said that, on the orders of prison staff, he was suspended by his arms and legs, then beaten and burned with a red-hot metal spoon. Doctors later recorded fractures to the toes of Khaidaev's left foot and right hand, as well as multiple bruises, abrasions, and contusions.

Последние новости
A student from South Ossetia was detained in Tbilisi on charges of espionage
Politics
A student from South Ossetia was detained in Tbilisi on charges of espionage
24 April 2026

One of three individuals detained in Tbilisi on charges of espionage was 27-year-old Tamaz Goloev (Goloti), a native of Akhalgori, a town in the territory of South Ossetia not controlled by Georgian authorities. This was reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Georgian service.

The Georgian opposition accused the prime minister of working for Russia's interests amid a dispute with the EU
Politics
The Georgian opposition accused the prime minister of working for Russia's interests amid a dispute with the EU
23 April 2026

Grigol Gegelia, a member of the opposition party "Lelo – Strong Georgia," sharply criticized Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze following his statement about the possible "summoning" of the EU ambassador.

Former Georgian Defense Minister Sentenced to 10 Years
Politics
Former Georgian Defense Minister Sentenced to 10 Years
23 April 2026

The Tbilisi City Court found former Georgian Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze guilty of abuse of office and money laundering and sentenced him to 10 years in prison. He was also ordered to forfeit his property—a plot of land and a house in Spain, as well as a house and parking space in the village of Tskneti. Upon his release, he will be banned from holding public office for two years.

Two Armenian opposition parties have submitted their applications for participation in the parliamentary elections
Politics
Two Armenian opposition parties have submitted their applications for participation in the parliamentary elections
23 April 2026

With the parliamentary elections in Armenia scheduled for June 7 approaching, opposition forces are deciding whether to participate. Two parties – Strong Armenia and Wings of Unity – have officially submitted their applications to the Central Election Commission.