General Sergei Surovikin, a deputy commander within the joint troop group operating in the special military operations zone, is not detained in any pre-trial facility. This reassurance came from Alexei Melnikov, executive secretary of the Moscow Public Monitoring Commission, in statements cited by TASS.
Melnikov noted that a steady stream of Russian and foreign journalists have been reaching out in recent days, seeking confirmation about the general’s status.
“People ask: is it true that Surovikin is in prison? My answer remains that he is not in Lefortovo nor in any other pre-trial detention centers,” Melnikov told reporters.
On June 29, Surovikin’s daughter, Veronica, rejected rumors of an arrest on suspicion tied to the PMC Wagner riot. She said her father had not faced any such development and was at work.
Earlier, reports about the general’s alleged arrest circulated in several Telegram channels. The rumors suggested detainment on June 25, with the Financial Times later reporting on the arrest as well.
General Andrei Yudin was also the subject of arrest claims. However, the publication Ura.ru, while noting rumors on June 28, reported no verified development as the author was reportedly on vacation.
In prior Kremlin remarks, officials were pressed for clarification about Surovikin’s situation, but no official confirmation or denial beyond the communications from the Moscow Public Monitoring Commission had been issued.