A Russian activist has died in prison days after describing being tortured and expressing fear for his life, according to his lawyer, which is believed to be the first known death in custody of a Russian opponent of the war in Ukraine.
Anatoly Berezikov, 40, died about a month after he was detained by the police in his home in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and charged with misdemeanors, which he denied. His lawyer, Irina Gak, said he was known to have put up posters around the city promoting the antiwar initiative called “I Want to Live,” which helps Russian servicemen in Ukraine to surrender, and that it had made him a target.
The Rostov region police told local news media that Mr. Berezikov was found without signs of life in his cell on Wednesday, an account that tried to portray his death as a suicide. The police declined to provide additional details when contacted by The New York Times, and no other official has commented on Mr. Berezikov’s death.
Mr. Berezikov is believed to be the first person in Russia to die in police custody after being jailed for opposing the invasion of Ukraine. Tens of thousands of Russians have been detained since the start of the invasion under draconian laws that criminalize criticism of the war but most were released soon after.
Among about 600 Russians who have been charged with criminal offenses related to opposition to the war, 37 have described being tortured, according to Dasha Korolenko, a lawyer with the country’s human rights advocacy group, OVD-Info, which collects information on each case.
Ms. Gak, the lawyer, said that a day before his death Mr. Berezikov had told her that he had broken ribs and had exhibited marks on his body that he said were from a stun.
“He said that he was being threatened, that he feared for his life,” Ms. Gak said in a video posted on social media by OVD-Info on Thursday. Ms. Gak did not immediately respond to requests for an interview.
Another local opposition activist, Tatyana Sporysheva, said that she spoke to Mr. Berezikov in court just days before his death and that he had described facing threats and intimidation. She said Mr. Berezikov had told her “I’m afraid that they will kill me.”
Ms. Sporysheva described Mr. Berezikov as a well-known member of his community who did things like ride his bike in shorts and a Santa hat in freezing winter weather to cheer up fellow residents.
Rostov-on-Don is near the Azov Sea and a major military logistics hub for Russia’s war effort.
After his detention, Mr. Berezikov was charged with several minor offenses, including hooliganism, allowing the authorities to keep him in custody. His latest 15-day sentence was supposed to end on Thursday, but Ms. Sporysheva said he had predicted at his sentencing that he would not survive that long, telling her “I won’t live to June 15.”
Alina Lobzina contributed reporting.
