On March 8, 2022, Putin signed a “decision” allowing security forces to place people in pretrial detention centers without a court ruling. This was reported by First Department, citing Investigative Committee documents.
According to the document, the FSB placed a Russian citizen in a detention facility, referring to the “decision of the President of the Russian Federation dated 08.03.2022 on organizing the reception and placement of persons opposing the SMO.”
Document: First Department
At the same time, no criminal case had been opened against him. According to Putin’s decision, such “persons” may be “transferred and placed” in institutions operating under the regime of pretrial detention centers, and military personnel as well as representatives of the FSB, the Interior Ministry, and the Federal Protective Service are authorized to send them there.
In addition, the Investigative Committee refers to a certain “temporary instruction” regulating how detention centers function under this regime. Neither Putin’s March 8, 2022 decision nor this instruction has been published in the public domain.
Human rights advocates note that both documents violate Article 22 of the Constitution, which states that deprivation of liberty is permitted only on the basis of a court ruling.