According to Alexei Melnikov, the general secretary of the Moscow POC, Sergei Udaltsov, who leads the political group known as the Left Front, remains in a quarantine cell at the pre-trial detention center in Moscow. Reports from RIA Novosti indicate that the POC representative has not raised concerns about the conditions of Udaltsov’s confinement, suggesting routine procedural matters rather than immediate complaints about treatment.
Udaltsov has described receiving letters and parcels through the facility, and he noted that his cellmate is a defendant in a case involving a robbery. The activist painted a picture of a reasonably equipped living space, mentioning access to a kettle, a refrigerator, a television, and a library with books. He also indicated that daily outdoor walks are permitted, providing essential opportunities for fresh air and exercise.
Historically, Udaltsov has faced multiple detentions tied to uncoordinated demonstrations and public actions. In 2014, he was convicted of organizing a riot related to events on Bolotnaya Square in Moscow dating back to May 2012, resulting in a prison sentence of four and a half years. This portion of his record has been a focal point in discussions about political activity and state responses to protests in Russia.
On January 12, Udaltsov’s defense team, representing the Left Front’s coordinator, voiced objections to his arrest, signaling ongoing legal contestation of the case. Udaltsov himself has rejected the accusations, arguing that the charges are motivated by his public posts on social networks that expressed support for members of a Marxist circle in Ufa. This claim points to tensions between political expression online and government action, a theme frequently observed in contemporary legal battles over activism.
In related updates, the Moscow court previously scheduled a substantial judicial workload for the leader of the Left Front, highlighting the intense pace of proceedings and the broader pressures faced by opposition figures in the region. The case continues to draw attention from observers concerned with due process, freedom of assembly, and the rights of political organizers in contemporary Russia.