Andrey Perlov’s house near Novosibirsk in Siberia was visited by police at around 06:45 on 28 March.
He was accused of stealing approximately three million roubles ($32,000; £24,000) from a Novosibirsk football club where he worked as the managing director. Both he and his family deny these allegations.
Perlov, a 62-year-old Olympic gold medallist, won the 50km race walk in 1992.
He has been in detention for over six months, during which his family claims he is being coerced to agree to fight in Ukraine. It has been communicated to him that if he agrees, the embezzlement case against him would be put on hold and potentially dropped after the war concludes.
Recent legislation passed in March 2024 requires both prosecution and defense lawyers to inform individuals charged with most crimes that they have the option to go to war instead of facing trial. If they opt for military service, the legal proceedings against them will be halted, and their cases will likely be closed at the end of the conflict.
Reports suggest that this new law has significantly altered Russia’s legal system, sparking concerns among organizations like Russia Behind Bars, which offers legal aid to detainees.
There have been instances where individuals facing criminal charges have chosen to enlist with the military in hopes of avoiding imprisonment and a criminal record. However, this decision can have fatal consequences, as seen in the case of teenager Yaroslav Lipavsky, who signed up with the army to evade prosecution and tragically lost his life in Ukraine just a week later.
The policy shift towards recruiting individuals accused of crimes to bolster military forces reflects Russia’s need to strengthen its troops while reducing the mobilization of civilians.
Experts believe that the government may view convicts as expendable assets, assuming they will not have a significant impact on the economy or society at large.
Recruitment of prisoners by groups like Wagner, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, has led to significant casualties among inmates sent to fight in Ukraine. The process of recruiting prisoners and the toll it has taken on them and their families has been documented through confidential documents.
Payment records and analysis of dog tags belonging to convicts who died in combat reveal the extent of prisoners recruited for military service in Ukraine.
Despite the pressure from authorities, some individuals accused of crimes refuse to join military operations, either due to moral objections, fear of death or injury, or a desire to fight their legal battle at home.
Andrey Perlov’s daughter Alina has spoken out about the pressure her father faced to sign up for military service, and the consequences he endured for refusing to comply.
The family remains hopeful of proving Perlov’s innocence, despite the challenges they face in the legal system.
“He tries to keep himself chefful,” she says, “but if this goes on, they will brake him.”
We asked the Russian authorities about Andrey Perlov’s case and whether they are unfairly pressuring detainees to join the army. They did not respond.