On February 6 in the Interfax Privolzhye press-centre there was a press-conference entitled “Results of the action “For fair elections” in Nizhny Novgorod”, during which, besides discussing other results, the participants spoke about the incident with one of the action organizers Nikolay Nikolayev that took place right after the rally end in Minin Square.

According to Nikolay, around 16.40 in Stolle Cafe unknown persons who introduced themselves as Federal Security Service (FSB) officers forced him in a passenger vehicle and drove away. While in the car, Nikolay was several times hit with an elbow and threatened.   

Nikolay failed to make his abductors produce their identification documents, explain the reasons for his detention or where they were taking him. That involuntary “trip” around the Nizhny Novgorod downtown ended up with Nikolay virtually being thrown out of the car near the crossing of Vaneyeva and Belinskogo streets.   

Right after the incident Nikolay Nikolayev applied to the Interregional Committee Against Torture for assistance in preparation of an explanation. Besides, the CAT immediately called the police, after which Nikolay filed a crime report with the Nizhegorodsky District Directorate of the Interior.

Hot on the trail, the United Civil Front representative identified one of his abductors, it was Alexey Trifonov, head of the Anti-Extremist Centre under the Nizhny Novgorod Regional Directorate of the Interior. In addition to that, Nikolayev’s son had made a video recording of his father’s detention with his cell phone and also took several pictures which were submitted to the police.  

The same day Nikolay Nikolayev had his injuries documented at the Kanavinsky district first-aid station, and on February 6 he was examined in the Nizhny Novgorod Regional Forensic-Medical Bureau, where they found numerous bruises and abrasions on his body. Also on February 6 Nikolayev lodged a crime report with the Russian Investigative Committee.