A Sochi resident was convicted of promoting extremist ideology in a pretrial detention center.

A court in Krasnodar sentenced Sochi resident Bichiko Pruidze to a term in a maximum-security penal colony, finding him a member of an extremist organization.

The case of participation in an extremist organization (Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code carries a sentence of two to six years in prison) was opened based on materials from the Kuban branch of the FSB. Officers from this agency detained Pruidze while he was at large, although the case concerned his detention in Pre-trial Detention Center No. 1 in Krasnodar.

Pruidze was detained by a group of armed security officers in his home, according to a security recording from the FSB Directorate for the Krasnodar Territory. He was dragged out of bed in his underwear and placed face down on the floor. When the officer asked if he knew why he was being detained, Pruidze responded emotionally, "No!" "What happened?" he asked the FSB officers.

According to the prosecution, from April 13, 2023, to February 27, 2024, Pruidze “instilled criminal ideology” in the pretrial detention facility, disseminated “criminal traditions” among prisoners, and “promoted antisocial behavior” and “thieves' codes of conduct.”

“He cultivated the foundations of prison life and also expressed support for A.U.E.*, whose activities have been recognized as extremist,” the joint press service of the courts of Krasnodar Krai reported today.

Pruidze's sentence was handed down by the Oktyabrsky District Court of Krasnodar. Considering that he had previously been convicted by the Central District Court of Sochi in another case, he was sentenced to five years and eight months in a maximum-security prison.

* the organization is recognized as extremist, its activities are banned in Russia by the court.

** the activities of Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) are banned in Russia.