Timofei Rudenko has faced a string of legal troubles during the summer, leading to his frequent arrests and detentions. Over the course of two months, the 30-year-old was apprehended five times for various minor infractions, including public disturbances and disregarding police instructions, as documented in Russian court records.

Following each release from a Moscow petty crimes detention facility, Rudenko found himself swiftly rearrested for new minor transgressions, as confirmed by publicly available documents. His mother, Yulia Kiselyova, recounted witnessing his fifth arrest on July 7, just moments after he left the jail. She asserted that her son was unfairly targeted, attributing this treatment to his recent social media posts criticizing the war in Ukraine.

However, the situation took a more serious turn two weeks later. On July 21, Rudenko, a former military psychologist in Russia, was arrested for a sixth time, this time on charges of allegedly endorsing terrorism on the internet. This offense carries a potentially severe punishment of up to seven years in prison, as per court records. Unfortunately, these records do not provide specific details about the alleged crime, pending a trial.

Timofei Rudenko, currently held in pre-trial detention in Moscow, has consistently denied all the alleged offenses brought against him. Reuters attempted to independently verify his mother's account of events and reach out to Rudenko in detention, but these efforts were unsuccessful. Additionally, Rudenko's legal representatives declined to comment on his case, and requests for comments from Russian law enforcement authorities went unanswered.

A review of Rudenko's Telegram social media account by Reuters did not reveal any posts critical of the war, although his mother, Yulia Kiselyova, mentioned that there were no longer any such posts without providing further details. Human rights lawyers in Russia have described Rudenko's experience as emblematic of "carousel arrests," a pattern where individuals are repeatedly arrested for minor offenses immediately upon completing a jail term, effectively keeping them in near-constant custody. This practice is seen as part of the Russian authorities' efforts to suppress dissent related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

While consecutive detentions are not illegal in Russia, as the law permits "administrative" detentions of up to 30 days for minor infractions, the repeated arrests can provide investigators with time to delve into a person's past and online activities, potentially paving the way for more serious criminal charges, according to the Russian rights group OVD-Info, which tracks detentions of anti-war activists.

The phenomenon of carousel arrests appears to have gained prominence since the conflict in Ukraine began. Russia has tightened its laws to restrict public criticism of the war, introducing new crimes like "discrediting the army" and spreading "fake news" about alleged Russian atrocities. These offenses can result in lengthy prison sentences. Notably, opposition politician Ilya Yashin received over eight years in prison for spreading false information about the army related to a YouTube video discussing evidence of a Russian massacre of Ukrainians in Bucha, near Kyiv.

In response to questions about the arrests of Russians expressing doubts about the war, President Vladimir Putin defended the crackdown on dissent, emphasizing the need to deal with individuals who "harm us inside the country" during a time of national crisis.

Carousel arrests were less common before the war and were primarily associated with dissidents, opposition politicians, and activist groups like Pussy Riot. This tactic reflects authorities' experimentation with various methods to quell dissent while adhering to legal procedures.

One example highlighted is that of Leniye Umerova, who faced multiple arrests for minor infractions before being charged with espionage in May. Her brother suggested that her criticism of the war and her social media posts about the persecution of Crimean Tatars were the reasons behind her repeated detentions.

While not all carousel arrests result in more serious criminal charges, they can have a chilling effect on those detained, as was the case with Dmitry Golovlyov, who was detained twice for a balloon stunt critical of a designated terrorist organization. After serving time for two separate offenses, Golovlyov did not face further charges but remained fearful.

Timofei Rudenko, a former military psychologist turned mechanic, awaits trial on charges of justifying terrorism while in custody in Moscow. A trial date has yet to be scheduled, and his mother, Yulia Kiselyova, has expressed little optimism about the outcome.