'Where Are the 6 Million?': Blogger Ulyanov Sent to Pre-Trial Detention
The criminal case centers on allegations that blogger Alexey Ulyanov extorted large sums from local business leaders.
In Volgograd on December 4, activist and blogger Alexey Ulyanov was sent to a pre-trial detention center. He is suspected of large-scale extortion and of having ties with previously detained political scientist and journalist Mikhail Serenko. The activist confessed that he did take money for publications, including from a well-known grain trader already serving a sentence, but he assured that he never extorted it. In a conversation with a journalist, he complained of poor health and said that the day before he had undergone surgery without anesthesia. What else happened at the closed court session — read in our report.
The detention of Alexey Ulyanov became known on the evening of December 2. The regional Investigative Committee (SK) reported: Alexey Ulyanov is suspected of committing several episodes of extortion, including one committed by a group of persons on an especially large scale with journalist and political scientist Mikhail Serenko, who was earlier taken into custody. According to the investigation, starting from 2020, he demanded money from organization heads and private citizens in exchange for not spreading damaging information. The sums varied from 100,000 to 6 million rubles (approximately $1,100 to $66,700 at current rates).
«The investigative bodies of the Investigative Committee (SK) of Russia for Volgograd Region have initiated a criminal case against a local blogger. He is suspected of committing several episodes of extortion, including one committed by a group of persons on an especially large scale (Article 163 of the Criminal Code),» the SK Russia statement said. «According to the investigation, starting from 2020, the suspect demanded money from organization heads and private citizens in exchange for not spreading damaging information. The sums he intended to obtain varied from 100,000 to 6 million rubles (approximately $1,100 to $66,700 at current rates).»
«They Gave Me an Injection, After Which I Lost Consciousness»
On December 4, the Central District Court was selecting a preventive measure for him. His wife Elena came to support the blogger; until the last moment, she did not know how her husband ended up in the hospital the day before.
«On December 4, I went to Hospital No. 12 in the Krasnooktyabrsky District to get a discharge summary. We wanted him to be hospitalized based on that summary. But they didn»t give it to me,« the woman said. »I am most worried about his heart. He had angioedema about a month ago. He was taking strong hormonal drugs, and his heart reacts very strongly to them.«
Ulyanov«s wife learned only on the court day about his recent surgery and expressed concerns for his health.
Before the judge entered the courtroom, in a conversation with journalists, Alexey Ulyanov stated that the day before he had undergone surgery without anesthesia. According to him, if he had been given anesthesia, they would not have been able to revive him.
«Yesterday, doctors saved me in the intensive care unit for half an hour. They gave me an injection, after which I lost consciousness; there was angioedema. I ended up in resuscitation. They poked me all over because they couldn»t find a vein. I weigh 190 kilograms (419 pounds), they dragged me on the floor. My whole body hurts,« Alexey said. »After that, they took me down to a ward, swollen, and an hour later they told me: you need to have an operation. They did it to me alive because the girl who resuscitated me earlier said: if they give anesthesia now, they won«t be able to revive me. They told me to endure. So yesterday they operated on my kidney, sorry, through the organ. The girls held my hands, saying: hold on, don»t lose consciousness, but it was close. Today I go to the toilet with blood, my stomach hurts, everything hurts. No one cares. But no one reacts. That«s the attitude towards people.»
«They Stopped Paying — I Stopped Writing»
Alexey Ulyanov also mentioned the well-known grain trader Igor Dailidenko. According to Elena, her husband«s detention order includes his name, as well as those of Mikhail Serenko and one of the region»s largest grain businessmen — Rashid Karsakov.
Recall that the verdict for retired MVD colonel Igor Dailidenko was issued in August 2022. According to the investigation, in the summer of 2020, when returning grain to the customer, a shortage of over 1,300 tons of wheat worth 18 million rubles (approximately $200,000 at current rates) was discovered. The investigation believed that Dailidenko shipped this grain to his warehouses in the Kumylzhensky District and disposed of it at his discretion. Moreover, from June to September 2020, he allegedly did not pay wages to four workers, owing them over 50,000 rubles (about $550). Igor Dailidenko himself categorically did not admit guilt and called the criminal case an «order» from one of his business partners. Alexey Ulyanov admitted that Dailidenko paid him for publications.
«I never told a single person: let me not do something, and you give me money for it. Never. I earn my money honestly. If I publish something for money, I don»t do it in a way that I don«t publish something for money. I never made demands to anyone. Everything I»ve read is such nonsense,« the defendant said. »When they write that someone paid money so that Ulyanov wouldn«t write, and then they ask: why does Ulyanov continue to write? Right, because I communicate with another person, and he pays me, not the one against whom I wasn»t supposed to write, from whom I allegedly extorted. And why does Ulyanov continue to write? Yes, because Ulyanov communicates with Dailidenko, not Karsakov. Dailidenko, yes, paid me for each publication, that«s why I kept writing. And why did he suddenly stop writing? Because Dailidenko was imprisoned.»
«And Where Are These 6 Million? Did He Eat Them?»
Elena Ulyanova said that they lived modestly but not in poverty. According to her, almost all their money went to the children. She worked officially, and her husband was engaged in «public activity.» However, as the woman says, their family never saw any of the six million that the investigation claims.
«Come, see how we live. We live within our means, as we can. Everything is in plain sight. I work officially. Lesha had earnings, but not every day. Of course, it wasn»t enough, but what can you do? I wouldn«t say we are destitute and suffering,» Elena said. «Our eldest daughter studies in Moscow on a state-funded basis, lives in a dormitory because we can»t pay for an apartment. We ourselves also live in a dormitory. We eat, fill up the cars, take the children to clubs. If we bought something expensive once a year, that«s already good. This year we bought a coffee machine. Last year — a vacuum cleaner. We have no savings, our own apartment, jewelry; we don»t go abroad on vacation. When the salary comes — we spend it, mostly on the children. I want to ask, where are these six million? Maybe he ate them? Hid them?«
The court ordered Ulyanov to remain in pre-trial detention until early February while the investigation continues.
Elena says that the search of their apartment did not come as a surprise to her. According to her, this is not the first time it has happened. But neither she, nor especially the children, were prepared for this search to end with detention and a criminal case.
«My children ask: »And where is dad, what happened to dad, why was he arrested?« I say: »Well, dad has such a dangerous job,«» Elena said. «The younger daughter wanted to become a police officer, but now she doesn»t want to. She says: «Mom, why did the police detain dad? Is he a criminal?» I say: «No, daughter, he is not a criminal.» They practically didn«t sleep at night, the younger one had some kind of breakdown. Today they are cleaning the apartment, tidying up, waiting for dad to come home.»
«Ulyanov Was Not Valuable Enough to Pay Him 6 Million»
It should be clarified that the investigation does not specify the specific individuals from whom Alexey Ulyanov allegedly extorted money. Vladimir Surov, head of the investigative department of the SK for the Central District of Volgograd, who was present in the courtroom, also remained silent on this. Meanwhile, the Central District Court sent Alexey Ulyanov to pre-trial detention until February 2. His lawyer stated that «it was clear from the start,» and left the building without even waiting for the verdict. However, before that, he said he plans to appeal the ruling.
Meanwhile, the detention and remand of Alexey Ulyanov began to be actively discussed in popular Telegram channels in the region.
Thus, the authors of the Telegram channel «Alleya Geroev» (Alley of Heroes) mention the name of the largest grain businessman Rashid Karsakov, but they do not believe the version that the blogger extorted money specifically from him.
«First, if he received it, it would look very strange that he defended Dailidenko almost until his imprisonment. Second, Ulyanov himself was not valuable enough in the region to be paid six million for anything. Even in tandem with Mikhail Serenko. Third, knowing a bit about Ulyanov»s psychology, it would at least be reflected in his lifestyle, and at the same time in the price he «charged» other users of his services. And his price didn«t change from year to year and was frankly ridiculous,» the channel«s author writes. »For now, the whole story looks like an attempt to find at least some witness that Sereno extorted money from someone. They found a weak link among his contacts and are waiting for testimony. And the victim himself was practically invented out of thin air.«
At the same time, the authors do not hide their attitude towards the activist.
«One can have different attitudes towards Ulyanov (we have a bad attitude towards him), but putting a person without a foreign passport, and even on economic charges, in pre-trial detention — this is violating the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin and dooming the blogger to death or worsening disability. We hope the judge has enough brains not to become a murderer,» the authors emphasized.
