32-year-old Roman Proshin and 25-year-old Maxim Shcherbakov were detained in December last year in the Indian city of Mumbai for penetrating the territory of the high-rise residential complex "Imperial" in an elite area of the city. Two 60-storey twin towers are included in the list of the tallest buildings in the country.
Indian and then Russian media wrote that the Russians planned to climb to the very top of the building, descend the outside of the skyscraper and record an extreme video.
Proshin and Shcherbakov were accused of preliminary conspiracy and entry into the premises with the aim of causing damage (Articles 34 and 452 of the Criminal Code of India). The men face up to seven years in prison and a fine.
Roman Proshin himself, in an interview with RT, noted that he and his friend wanted to climb to the top of the skyscraper to take photos of the city from a bird's eye view. In his social networks, the man shares professional pictures taken from high-rise buildings in Russia and other countries.
"This was my first trip to India, three days after my detention I had to continue my journey – fly to Thailand. As we were getting up, the guards ran up to us and started whistling. Maxim and I separated and detained me outside the skyscraper. They hit me several times, twisted them," Roman recalls. "The media said that we allegedly wanted to record a video, but this is slander - we do not even run a YouTube channel."
According to the interlocutor, he and his friend were not the first who decided to climb the skyscraper. But because of other lovers of visiting the roofs, the owner of the building decided to recoup on those who fell for the guards, Proshin is sure.
"This skyscraper has already been climbed by a Frenchman and an Indian. They made a video that garnered a lot of views. But we did not plan to shoot anything like this, "the man says.
Art. Article 452 of the Criminal Code of India suggests that the intruders entered the territory of someone else's property "in preparation for causing harm to health, attack or unlawful retention." However, Proshin emphasizes that neither he nor an acquaintance had the intention to harm someone or damage property.
"It's my fault that I went into the stairwell without permission, but I didn't even go up to the roof, broke anything and didn't attack anyone. Why am I being falsely charged? In my homeland, I have retired parents and a younger sister. Only my sister and friends know about my situation, I cannot traumatize my parents and tell them.
Not released from the country
After being detained, Proshin and Shcherbakov spent the night at the police station, and the next day they were sent to court. All the court documents and accusations that were provided to Roman (at the disposal of RT) are written in Hindi, the man could not independently understand what exactly he was accused of.
Proshin was forced to communicate with his lawyer by appointment with the help of an online translator, since the Russian almost does not speak English.
The court agreed not to arrest the defendants and release them on bail of 15 thousand rupees per person (about 15 thousand rubles).
After being released on bail, Proshin and Shcherbakov went in different directions and now do not maintain communication. They can move freely in India, but they are not allowed to leave the country.
Roman appealed to the Russian embassy for help. There, he was advised to obtain an Exit Permit from the Aliens Registration Office (FRRO), as his tourist visa had expired by that time. However, the Indian authorities refused to let Proshin out of the country because of the unclosed criminal trial.
"Courts can drag on for years"
Roman was advised to contact the Mumbai police and apply for permission to leave the country.
"I came to the police station, turned to the officer and asked for help to issue a petition for the court for the right to leave the country. They said that it is possible, but maxim's presence is necessary, because we have a common criminal case. He refused to come (to Mumbai), so I remained a hostage of the situation, "Proshin notes.
- Roman Proshin is fond of photography and aerial gymnastics
- © Photo from personal archive
Now Roman is trying to find a lawyer who will agree to represent his interests and to whom he can entrust his case. Money for a paid defender is collected by friends in Russia. The man does not have the opportunity to work legally while he is in India as there is no work visa.
"A popular practice here is to act in extras, but legally this can only be done on a work visa. Some are removed at my own risk, but I had enough fears and risks, it's time to live a quiet life. I also cannot work remotely, because of the equipment I have only an old android, "says the Russian.
According to him, now he lives in one of the cheapest hostels in the city, he managed to negotiate with the administrator about a discount on housing: 270 rupees for a bed. Almost all the money that his relatives send him, he saves for a lawyer and paying a possible fine, which he can be awarded, he adds.
The court hearing in the case of Proshin and Shcherbakov is scheduled for May 17. Roman fears that the process may drag on indefinitely.
"To be honest, I'm desperate. My health has deteriorated a lot: I sleep very rarely, because of this, constant headaches. Russians who have sat here or are facing this system say that Indian courts can drag on for years. At best, I'll stay here for another three years in limbo. I'm not even talking about a possible sentence in prison for allegedly preparing an attack, although I didn't. I very much hope that our Foreign Ministry is influential enough and will be able to help protect my interests," adds Roman Proshin.
RT sent a request to the Russian Foreign Ministry with a request to help a Russian who was in trouble abroad.