Vitaly Gimaldinov, a 26-year-old former traffic police officer from Tulun in Russia’s Irkutsk region, alleged that security officers tortured him with electric shocks after his arrest on April 13 while demanding access to his phone and a confession. The People of Baikal project published his video account on November 5. These are Gimaldinov’s allegations, not findings established in court.
Gimaldinov said FSB officers and members of the ROSN special unit arrived at his home in the morning. He alleged that they used a stun device in his yard to obtain his phone password and continued the abuse in a vehicle and at another location. He said he lost consciousness after striking his head against a wall and that officers threatened his parents while pressing him to admit guilt.
Gimaldinov faces a bribery charge, which he says was fabricated. He was arrested on the same day as his former colleague Viktor Askhaev. Askhaev had complained about corruption within the local traffic police, and according to People of Baikal the complaint to the Prosecutor General’s Office was sent from Gimaldinov’s email account. Askhaev believes the criminal cases are retaliation for that complaint.
By the time the account appeared, Gimaldinov had been under investigation for more than six months. He said travel restrictions prevented him from leaving Tulun and limited visits to his pregnant wife, who worked in another city. The video was recorded several months before its publication.