Artiom Kamardin stood in front of a monument in Moscow and read a poem criticizing Russia’s war in Ukraine. It had consequences. His young fiancée tells of how the police rushed into the couple’s home, beat both of them and arrested Artyom. His lawyer believes that more will be arrested for similar so-called crimes.
“Never feel safe”
Alexandra Popova and Artyom Kamardin. A couple in love together in freedom. After Artyom recited a poem against Russia’s warfare in Ukraine in a Moscow square, everything changed. Policemen storming into the apartment, beat both and arrested Artiom. Alexandra has pictures of the incident on her phone.
– He is arrested because of his poems and is suspected of crimes only because he has recited poetry at the Mayakovsky monument in front of Triumfalnaya Square, she says.
In the court’s cage for suspects are two other men. They too must have read poetry in public. But Artiom has been sent to a psychiatric unit for evaluation. His lawyer believes that the number of similar cases will increase.
For the detainees’ relatives, the uncertainty is difficult. Artyom and his friends can be released or sentenced to several years in prison.
– I suffer from constant paranoia and never feel safe, says Alexandra Popova.