Relatives of Sergei Mulivanov, 59, who moved to Russia from Latvia, told Ostorozhno, Novosti on November 5 that he was transferred from detention into military custody and sent towards Rostov-on-Don despite refusing to take part in the war. According to the family, they have not known his whereabouts or condition since October 30.
Mulivanov was arrested in April on fraud charges. He worked as a courier, and his relatives say he did not know that the money he was transporting came from criminal activity. He denies wrongdoing. His lawyer says the military-contract documents signed in April initially had no dates, but were completed in October to make them appear to have been signed recently.
According to the defence, Mulivanov and his lawyer submitted a written refusal to send him to war on October 28. After a court hearing on October 30, he was taken to investigators rather than returned to pretrial detention. Relatives say he was then handed over to an escort. His last call home came from a bus that he said was travelling to Rostov.
The family also says Mulivanov has diabetes and polyneuropathy and did not undergo a military medical examination. The account of the contract, his refusal and subsequent transfer comes from relatives and his lawyer, rather than from findings established by a court.