The investigation asked to arrest Pyotr Verzilov because he is hiding in the Vatican

The investigation sent a petition for the arrest in absentia of the publisher of Mediazona (recognized as a foreign agent) Pyotr Verzilov (recognized as a foreign agent) to the Basmanny Court of Moscow in the case of concealing his second citizenship (he has a Canadian passport). According to investigators, he is hiding in the territory of the Vatican.

“The investigation sent a petition to the Basmanny Court of Moscow to arrest Verzilov in absentia, since, according to law enforcement officers, he violated his travel ban and fled to the territory of the Vatican,” said Mr. Verzilov’s lawyer, Leonid Solovyov. TASS. According to him, the meeting is scheduled for January 9, 2023.

In 2020, a criminal case was opened against Pyotr Verzilov under the article on concealing a second citizenship (Article 330.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). On November 2, 2022, RT, Telegram channels Shot and Baza reported that Mr. Verzilov became a defendant in a criminal case on the spread of fakes about the Russian army. December 13th a search in this case was held at his mother, Elena Verzilova, December 16 – Pussy Riot member Rita Flores. Petr Verzilov located on the federal wanted list.

In May 2022, Pyotr Verzilov visited the Vatican. There he took part in an audience with Pope Francis, along with the wives of the commanders of the Azov battalion (recognized as a terrorist organization by the Supreme Court and banned).

Olesya Pavlenko