Support The Moscow Times!

Investigators Search Home of Opposition Blogger's Mother

Prominent blogger Rustem Adagamov said Friday that investigators had searched his mother's home, in the latest example of pressure on the opposition activist.

"My 77-year-old mother's home was raided, she is a former teacher with 45 years of experience. The search continues, but my mother is doing well," he wrote on his Facebook page. Adagamov said he couldn't explain the reason for the searches but denied they were linked to the so-called "Bolotnoye case."

Friday's raid comes after two apartments belonging to Adagamov's civil partner were searched last week. During the earlier searches, investigators seized a hard disk and album with photos taken at opposition rallies.

Adagamov's lawyer, Anton Zharov, told Interfax that Friday's raid was an attempt by Russian authorities to ensure that his client "never returns to Russia," Interfax reported.

Adagamov fled Russia last year after his ex-wife, Tatyana Delsal, who now lives in Norway, publicly accused him of pedophilia, saying her former husband raped a 12-year-old girl on multiple occasions. Delsal said she only learned of the rape after the victim approached her years after the alleged rape took place.

Adagamov, who blogs on LiveJournal under the username Drugoi, denies the allegations. He sits on the opposition's Coordination Council and has actively participated in the anti-Kremlin protest movement.

Related articles:

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more