However, they were not convicted of the crime; there was no evidence. As Alexey Vladimirov pointed out, by order of Polonsky, he was tortured in the basement of pre-trial detention center No. 1 in Smolensk until he confessed, and in the morning, right in the office of the head of the pre-trial detention center, Mikhalik, Polonsky personally interrogated him “with bias.” The story repeated itself with Alexei’s mother; she was also interrogated by Polonsky in the office of the head of the pre-trial detention center.
As a result, the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Smolensk Region opened a criminal case on the fact of causing bodily harm to Alexey Vladimirov. During interrogations, Polonsky called the events with Vladimirova a “personal reception” within the pre-trial detention center. But he categorically denied visiting Alexey.
As a result, in July 2022, the case of Vladimirov’s torture was closed due to the absence of a crime. However, after complaints from defense lawyers, the decision was canceled and the investigation was resumed.
“ВЧК ОГПУ”