Roman Melnychenko faced pressure in the pre-trial detention center.

After refusing to sign a contract to participate in the special military operation, Volgograd lawyer Roman Melnychenko, who is accused of discrediting the army, is being forced to run in the pre-trial detention center. He has submitted a request to the head of the facility for disability registration.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", after a search, former lecturer of Volgograd State University, lawyer Roman Melnychenko, was detained. The reason for the detention was a post on social media, in which the security forces saw discrediting of the army. He has been arrested for two months.

Lawyer Dmitry Sotnikov received a letter from Roman Melnychenko from the pre-trial detention center. The lawyer told him that a recruiter had contacted him in SIZO-5, offering to go to war in Ukraine. Melnychenko refused, citing that he is Ukrainian. After that, as punishment, he was forced to run, reports the project "Word for Defense".

In the letter, Melnychenko stated that he had submitted a request to the head of the pre-trial detention center for disability registration. His vision is minus 10 in one eye and minus 20 in the other, Sotnikov added.

The responsibility for discrediting the armed forces was introduced on March 4, 2022. After that, residents of Russia, including those from the North Caucasus Federal District and the Southern Federal District, began to face prosecution under Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. It provides for a fine for citizens from 30,000 to 100,000 rubles, and repeated violations within a year threaten criminal prosecution.

In 2022, the prosecutor's office accused Melnychenko of spreading fakes after his publications about events in Ukraine, and lawyers from Volgograd State University, where he taught, saw signs of agitation among students in his actions. On April 19, 2022, it became known that Melnychenko was dismissed from the university for absenteeism and immoral behavior. Melnychenko saw political motives in his dismissal and decided to appeal the rector's order. On June 7, the court imposed a fine of 30,000 rubles on Melnychenko, finding him guilty of spreading false information due to his publications about Ukraine. On July 12, 2022, the Soviet District Court of Volgograd considered Melnychenko's appeal and upheld the fine. He also failed to achieve reinstatement in his position.