Human rights defenders: defendants in “Wildberries” case released due to intervention of Chechen authorities

Defendants in a criminal case on the shooting in front of the “Wildberries” Company’s office “due to non-involvement” would not be released without the participation of the Chechen authorities, human rights defenders believe. If the three defendants who remain under arrest are also released or sign military contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD), the criminal case will be suspended.

The practice of suspects leaving for the special military operation (SMO) or them being released “due to non-involvement” with the help of interested parties is not only the practice of Ramzan Kadyrov’ associates, Chechen human rights defender Ruslan Kutaev* points out. “If ‘some top-ranking official’s’ people got into such a situation, they will be rescued,” Ruslan Kutaev* told a “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

The human rights defender believes that the authorities of Chechnya may be involved in the “rescue” of the participants in the incident. At the same time, in his opinion, to be sent to the special military operation (SMO) does not mean some kind of privilege.

“People who are under suspicion, people who are under investigation or who have been sentenced to prison terms … The Russian government gives these people the opportunity to sign a military contract and leave for <the special military operation in Ukraine>. Therefore, in this case, no special support from the government is needed. If they are released in some way, then you can already understand that the government has assisted in their case, but to be sent to the special military operation is not a privilege. They go around prisons, agitate convicts to sign military contract and leave for the front line, and they propose them money. Here, Ramzan Kadyrov’ associates do nothing special and their organizations are not involved in recruitment for <the special military operation>,” claimed human rights defender Ruslan Kutaev*.

In turn, Svetlana Gannushkina*, the chairperson of the “Civic Assistance” Committee**, believes that officials from the Chechen authorities could be interested in the release of some of the defendants in the criminal case on the shooting in front of the “Wildberries” Company’s office. At the same, the human rights defender notes that when a defendant is sent to the special military operation (SMO) zone, it does not mean a privilege.

“The influence of Ramzan Kadyrov and even just the assumption of his interest can play a big role. And, although going to war is not such a pleasant and fun walk, it can be made short and safe enough for the chosen ones,” the human rights defender explained to the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent.

If it turns out that all the defendants in the criminal case are absent, the criminal proceedings for grave and especially grave crimes are suspended, advocate Timofei Shirokov reports.

“If the crimes are minor or medium grave, then the criminal proceedings are being generally terminated. If it is a grave and especially grave crime – and these are the crimes that are imputed to those arrested in the ‘Wildberries’ case – then, accordingly, the criminal proceedings are to be suspended,” advocate Timofei Shirokov explained.

The advocate believes there are several ways the situation with the investigation may develop.

“The defendants are being placed at the full disposal of the Ministry of Defence, and the criminal case is being suspended for the period of their stay in the army. The case remains suspended, respectively, either until one of the defendants perishes, or until any of them receive a state award, or they are discharged. In all three options, the criminal case will be closed because it is believed that the person has ‘redeemed the misdeed with blood.’ Military contracts are now signed only for indefinite period of time, or rather until the end of the special military operation, and during this time the statute of limitations may even expire,” advocate Timofei Shirokov explained.

The advocate notes that the victims in the case have a chance to receive compensation.

“At present, the only thing they can do is try to sue in a civil procedure to receive compensation. Or wait for their fate in the criminal procedure,” advocate Timofei Shirokov stated.

This was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 13, 2025 at 11:57 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.

**On April 20, 2015, information appeared on the website of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) of the Russian Federation that the “Civic Assistance” Committee was included in the list of foreign agents.