People detained in connection with what the FSB has described as a planned terrorist attack against Roskomnadzor leadership may belong to Alyi lebed (“Scarlet Swan”), a movement that has campaigned against internet restrictions in Russia. That is the conclusion of the Russian human rights group Department One.
Activists used software tools to compare the voice of one detainee, visible in FSB operational footage, with that of Alyi lebed channel administrator Sofia Chepik and found a “high degree of similarity.”
Department One also noted that the FSB placed the detention on April 18 — the same day four Alyi lebed members went out of contact, the independent Russian broadcaster TV Rain had reported. Chepik, TV Rain said, received 15 days of administrative detention on April 20 on charges of hooliganism.
Alyi lebed (“Scarlet Swan”) is a Telegram chat and anonymous movement that, following the onset of large-scale internet restrictions in Russia, called on people to take part in protests.
Movement representatives submitted official applications to hold demonstrations on March 29 in several cities — all of which were denied. Alyi lebed subsequently urged its supporters not to participate in unauthorized protests.
Russia’s Federal Security Service announced on the morning of April 24 that it had, the week before, thwarted “a terrorist attack against Roskomnadzor leadership.” The agency said seven people were detained and that the alleged leader of the group “offered armed resistance using a firearm” and was killed.
At Meduza, we are committed to transparency about our use of artificial intelligence in the newsroom. The story you’re reading was written by one of our living, breathing journalists and translated from Russian using an AI model configured to follow our strict editorial standards. This translation process is the result of extensive testing and refinements to ensure our English-language coverage is timely and accurate. A Meduza editor reviews every draft before publication.
If you find any errors in this translation, please contact us at [email protected].
To read Meduza’s exclusive content in English, please subscribe to our newsletter.
