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Alleged spies and terrorists are increasingly punished in Russia. Torture is used to force unwilling suspects to confess. Ibrahim Orudzhev studied for translator English and French at the University of Belgorod not far from the border with Ukraine. While staying in his native Moscow, he was detained by police. He allegedly prepared a terrorist attack at the behest of the Ukrainian army. In October, the now 23-year-old was sentenced to 16 years in prison. Inclusion in the government's terrorist list followed on 2 November. His girlfriend Stasia - short for Anastasia - talks about the case (her surname is known to the editors).
When was the last time you spoke to Ibrahim?
'My last official visit in prison was in early October. He was behind glass. Through an intercom we could speak. Then for a while there were daily court sessions where I could exchange a few words with him each time. That was in the regional court. Later during the judgment before the military court, it was much stricter and I was already unable to speak to him. I am in constant letter contact with him though.'
How is his mood?
'As recently as September, he told me that he hoped his case would be returned to the criminal investigation department for further investigation. I asked him then if he understood that the charges against him were so serious that he has to spend the first three years in a prison and then go to a camp with a so-called heavy regime for many years. After the judge sentenced him to 16 years, I was afraid he would have a severe breakdown, but it seems not to be that bad.'
How did he face sentencing?
'He was bewildered by the judge. When his lawyer complained that officers had threatened to break his fingers, the judge asked if they had actually broken them. He denied. Thereupon, she asked if the defence wanted an investigation into the non-performance of promises made to be launched.'
Did he tell you about torture?
'Ibrahim told me later that he was in solitary confinement. At one point, two masked policemen entered the cell. They put a bag over his head. Then he was taken through long corridors to some room. There they took off the bag and beat him black and blue for hours. They wanted him to sign certain documents.'
Did he?
'No, he refused. I didn't expect that.'
If he had, would the punishment have been lower?
'I don't think so. I was assuming 20 years anyway.'
He studied to be a translator in Belgorod. What was he doing in Moscow?
'Ibrahim had taken a year off from his studies. He had come to Moscow to earn money and support his mother and younger sister. When he was still a toddler, his parents had already divorced. His father was from Azerbaijan and his mother from Russia. Hence his exotic name. His father lives in Baku. He is now trying to reconnect, but the relationship is quite complex.'
Under what circumstances was Ibrahim arrested?
'He accompanied his mother with her two cats to a nearby vet. She waited there with her pets. Meanwhile, Ibrahim walked to the military service examination office next door. After all, he had to report to the army as a student. Ibrahim took a picture of the opening hours there. He wanted to go there later. Then, suddenly, policemen came up to him and arrested him with great fanfare. When they asked, he also immediately voluntarily handed them his mobile phone.'
And there were special things on it?
'Ibrahim was given 10 days' provisional arrest. That gave them enough time to search his phone. According to the protocol, it included instructions on how to make explosives. And he was subscribed to Telegram channels allegedly training for terrorism, according to the prosecutor. I later asked him why he had voluntarily handed over his phone. He replied to me, puzzled: 'But I haven't done anything wrong anyway?'
Is it likely that he was reported by someone else?
'No, absolutely not. The problem was that exactly that office for military inspection was specially guarded. Indeed, there had already been two attempts to set fire. A week and a half after Ibrahim, an older man was convicted. I don't remember his name. He got 24 years for arson in that military examination office. But that man had really done that...'
And that man had earned 24 years of camp sentence?
'No, not that of course. But Ibrahim really has nothing to do with attacks or whatever. He is... rather naive. It was as if he didn't realise what kind of society we live in today. That manual for making explosives, for example... An expert testified in court that someone without the necessary prior knowledge would still not be able to make bombs themselves after reading that text. I don't know why he had that manual on his phone. But of course it was super stupid to know that there was something like that on it and then simply hand it over. He could have refused that too.'
Is he alone in the cell?
'No, there are five of them in a cell that is actually meant for four people. One of them is also a political prisoner, an Islamist. He had written me more information about his cellmates, but it was made unrecognisable by the censorship department. He is not allowed to write anything about the conditions there. Anything related to life there, any descriptions, all that is banned. They are afraid that escape plans could be forged on the basis of that info. It's absurd, but that's how they think.'
Will there be an appeal?
'Yes indeed, but that won't do much. Maybe they will deduct a month or two, as they often do.'
Why did he go to that judging office in the first place? Did he really want to fight Ukraine?
'As a student, he got a deferment anyway. But we never actually talked about that. I think he assumed he didn't have to join the army. He is against it...' (not wanting to mention the word war, Anastasia)
From prison, he could still be recruited...
'No, they can decide that all by themselves there. But to sign such a contract with defence, you must be very stupid...'
Or intelligent and brave enough to defect to Ukraine's side?
'That should do it then... The chances of getting killed or disabled for life would be very high. And besides: Who would do such a thing?'
There are former detainees who have done just that. They are now fighting the Russian army.
'Then they were lucky. But they can also die on Ukraine's side. Why should Ibrahim do that?'
What is it like in Moscow at the moment?
'Many people say it can't get any worse, that we are already at an all-time low. I disagree. There is still more than enough room down.'
As in the occupied territory of Ukraine?
'Yes, I am afraid Putin has not yet exhausted his complete arsenal of dirt. There's certainly still a few more to come.'
