Support The Moscow Times!

Udaltsov Questioned Over NTV Claims

Opposition leader Sergei Udaltsov was questioned by investigators Thursday in conncetion with a documentary accusing him of plotting a revolution in Russia.

"Anatomy of a Protest 2," which aired Friday on state-controlled NTV, included footage that it said showed Udaltsov, the leader of the Left Front movement, receiving instructions from Givi Targamadze, the? former head of? the Georgian parliament's defense committee and a close ally of President Mikheil Saakashvili, about how to trigger mass riots across the country.

"Udaltsov confired that in summer 2012 he contacted unnamed Georgian citizens, one of who he identified as Georgy Vasilyevich," the Investigative Committee said in a? statement.

It also said Udaltsov acknowledged discussing possible legal resources to fund the Left Front, but not any illegal plans to start a violent revolution.

"I absolutely deny receiving any money and orders from from foreign agencies," Udaltsov said on Twitter after the questioning.

He has repeatedly said that the documentary was a fake and that he didn't recall meeting Targamadze.

The NTV documentary said that Targamadze was involved in color revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine. The day after the program was aired, Prosecutor General Yury Chaika ordered an investigation into its claims.

Investigators plan to study the original videos used by the channel to verify its credibility.

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