A new criminal case has been opened against detained St. Petersburg resident Mikhail Fetisov for allegedly insulting a government official. The case became public on October 28 at a hearing in St. Petersburg's Vyborgsky District Court, which extended the detention of the 52-year-old former neurologist on earlier charges.
Fetisov says the new case arose from a confrontation with an officer of the Federal Penitentiary Service who, he alleges, beat him in the pretrial detention center's medical unit. His lawyer previously described signs of injuries and complaints submitted to prosecutors, the Investigative Committee, and the prison service.
Fetisov also told the court that his health was seriously deteriorating. He said his hemoglobin level was 74 grams per liter and that he was not receiving necessary medical care. Both claims are attributed to Fetisov.
He was originally charged with spreading alleged “false information” about Russia's military and calling for activities against state security over comments posted on VKontakte in 2022 and 2023. On October 28, the court extended his detention until January 27, 2027.