The lawyer accused the security forces of using electric shocks on detainees in the Moscow bars Underdog and La Virgen

Lawyer Konstantin Erokhin told the SOTA Telegram channel that law enforcement officers used electric shocks on several detainees in two metropolitan bars, Underdog and La Virgen. On the evening of March 17, TASS reported that law enforcement agencies came to the institutions in connection with suspicion of involvement in the financing of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to Mr. Yerokhin, the detainees’ lawyers are not allowed into the Basmanny district police station. He said that in the Underdog bar, the security forces detained only visitors, and in La Virgen – also part of the staff. Later, the lawyer clarified that 40-50 people were detained in both bars, most of whom were released after checking chats in Telegram. According to him, five people remain in the department, they are likely to be released in the near future. The lawyer said that the detainees were questioned by the FSB.

Also, Mr. Erokhin added that the officers did not draw up a report on anyone and checked the detainees on the wanted list. In addition, law enforcers seized cash registers in institutions.

At the same time, the Moskva agency claims that the security forces did not detain anyone in the Undredog bar. Telegram channel “Moscow” published a video in which, presumably, Underdog visitors sing “Why are birch trees making such a noise in Russia.” In the video, uniformed officers stand next to them.

One of the Underdog employees told Mediazona (recognized as a foreign agent) that security forces forced some visitors to undress and show tattoos, and also threatened them with a stun gun.

According to a TASS source in law enforcement agencies, the security forces have reason to believe that these institutions may be involved in sponsoring the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to OVD-Info (recognized as a foreign agent), in July 2022, the founders of Underdog and La Virgen Taqueria received threats due to the publication of the announcement of a charity vinyl record market in support of the Kyiv Angels (“Angels of Kiev”) band. Later, the owners of the establishments reported that the account of the bar La Virgen Taqueria, where the post was published, was hacked, and donations went to help the animal shelter “Your Dog Business”.

As they say in the social networks of the project, Kyiv Angels is a team founded by “a group of friends who just wanted to help” the citizens of Ukraine. Now it includes 50 people, they distribute food, medicines and other goods to those in need in Ukraine.

Erdni Kagaltynov