Professor Held for Refusing War Duty in SIZO
The prison administration forced a Volgograd lawyer to run as punishment for refusing to sign a contract. The lawyer, Roman Melnichenko, who is accused of repeated discrediting of the army (Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), spoke about the mistreatment he endured in the prison.
Consensus
- Roman Melnichenko is a former professor and candidate of legal sciences at Volgograd State University.
- Melnichenko was arrested in late July 2026.
- He is being held in SIZO-5 in Leninsk, Volgograd Oblast.
- He is charged with repeated 'discrediting the army' under Article 280.3 of the Russian Criminal Code.
- The alleged offense stems from a lecture video about international law and the situation of Ukrainian citizens.
- Melnichenko claims he was approached by a recruiter in SIZO who offered him a contract to fight in Ukraine.
- He refused, citing his ethnic Ukrainian identity and severe vision problems.
- As punishment, he was forced to run.
- His lawyer, Dmitry Sotnikov, has reported poor detention conditions, lack of medical care, and denial of medical treatment.
- Melnichenko has poor vision: -10 on one eye and -20 on the other.
- He submitted a request to the SIZO director for disability status.
- Melnichenko's health has deteriorated due to cold and lack of medical care.
Points of divergence
- The windows in Melnichenko's cell do not close, causing cold at night, and he was forced to seek warmth in the toilet. — tg_sotavisionmedia
- Melnichenko was denied packages, clothing, and books purchased from the SIZO store. — tg_sotavisionmedia
- Melnichenko was held in a special block for individuals accused of terrorist crimes. — tg_sotavisionmedia
- Melnichenko was forced to run after refusing to sign a contract with the Ministry of Defense. — tg_sotavisionmedia
- Melnichenko was subjected to a recruitment attempt in SIZO and forced to run after refusing. — novaya_eu
- Melnichenko was detained by officers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, FSB, and SOBR. — tg_horizontal_russia
- Melnichenko was arrested by armed officers in helmets and bulletproof vests who entered his apartment and forced him face-down on the floor. — tg_radiosvoboda
- Melnichenko was arrested by armed forces in helmets and bulletproof vests, who entered his apartment and placed him face-down. — tg_kavkazrealii
- The SIZO leadership forced Melnichenko to run as punishment for refusing to sign a contract. — tg_tvrain
- Melnichenko was punished for refusing to go to war, with the punishment being forced running. — tg_currenttime
Coverage (9 sources)
- Accused of repeated "discrediting" of the army Roman Melnichenko does not receive medical assistance and freezes in a pretrial detention center — Lawyer — SOTAvision
- In Volgograd prison lawyer Roman Melnichenko was made to run after refusing to go to war — SOTAvision
- Former professor of Volgograd University and candidate of legal sciences arrested in the case of "discrediting" the army Ro... — Радио Свобода
- Prisoners of political professor were tried to recruit to war in prison — Новая газета Европа
- Prison administration forced Volgograd lawyer to run as punishment for refusing to sign contract — 7х7 — Горизонтальная Россия
- Melnychenko sentenced to pretrial detention for refusing to go to war — Дождь
- After refusing to go to war, lawyer and former university professor Roman Melnychenko was made to run in a detention center — Дождь (Telegram)
- Arrested Russian professor with anti-war views punished in pretrial detention for refusing to fight — Настоящее Время
- Former professor of Volgograd University and candidate of legal sciences arrested in the case of "discrediting" the army Ro... — Кавказ.Реалии
Key entities
- Roman Melnichenko
- Pre-trial detention center
- Ukraine
- Volgograd University
- Volgograd Oblast
- Pre-trial Detention Center 5
- For Human Rights
- Dmitry Sotnikov
- Volgograd State University
- Ro
- Russia
- Sotavision