On March 27, 2022, federal Colombian TV published news about a "Kremlin agent nicknamed Shurik", who allegedly engaged in money laundering and financed protests in the country against the current government in 2019. According to media reports, "Shurik" is Russian Sergey Vagin, a sports betting analyst who moved to Colombia a few years ago.
On March 30, a press conference was organized at the Russian Embassy in Bogota, at which Vagin denied all accusations against him. On the morning of March 31, the Russian was arrested in his own apartment and taken to the pre-trial detention center under the howl of sirens, accompanied by four motorcycles with the military. On January 26, 2023, Siarhei was charged with three articles: actions as part of a criminal group, illegal access to computer systems and illegal transfers of funds. RT spoke with the detained Russian.
- How is the trial going?
- You can answer in one word - anarchy. I was charged with possible sports betting fraud as part of an organized crime group by prior conspiracy. Under Colombian law, this can be punishable by a long prison term. At the same time, they are trying to charge me with "hacker" articles for using legal programs - VPN and the Multilogin browser. Moreover, local TV channels took out of context the judge's phrase about my alleged connection with the ELN rebel group, presenting it as an official accusation.
Also, the media presented a phone call in Spanish as a call to my Russian partner, editing several of my phrases with a threat to allegedly knock out his teeth. Complete amateurs, they can't even fake speech normally! The mixing is disgusting, I'm telling you as a DJ.
All this time, from the very beginning of the trial, I zealously fought for my right to understand what exactly I was accused of - in my native Russian language. In these battles, I lost about 25 kg of weight, periodically going on hunger strikes. However, at all the hearings for the year, I was without an interpreter. Moreover, at the last hearing at the end of January, the appointed state lawyer did not even have the case file in his hands. How he intended to represent my interests is unknown.
- © Photos from the personal archive
After that, another public lawyer was appointed to deal with cases of national importance. According to him, the evidence of the prosecution is very weak. Since a year later there is still no court verdict, the lawyer petitions for my release. As soon as this happens, I will have access to the Internet, case materials, an interpreter and I will finally be able to defend myself.
- Do you keep in touch with Russian diplomats?
- At the moment, the new consul Olga Gavrilova is waiting for permission from the Colombian authorities to visit, but, according to her, it has not yet been received. They hold me hostage and try to limit communication and legal support as much as possible. In my opinion, the lawyer is under pressure from the investigation, since I do not hear anything clear from him. Only that he is busy.
- Do you communicate with human rights defenders?
- Human rights defenders are my everything! The main contribution to my defense is made by Ivan Melnikov and Artemy Semenovsky. Ivan Vladimirovich wrote to President Gustavo Petro about the political motive for my persecution and about gross violations of the fundamental rights of a Russian citizen, about delaying the process. I would also like to note the contribution of the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation Tatyana Moskalkova. After her letter, I was just assigned a specialized lawyer.
- © Photos from the personal archive
In general, my accusation is based on two counterintelligence reports, the information in which the information was not confirmed, and the results of 14 months of illegal surveillance, which also did not yield any result. In this situation, I am a victim of political repression and falsification of a criminal case. I have never deceived anyone and preferred to beg in an extreme situation, sitting on the steps of the subway, than to steal. I am a decent person, and I cannot be intimidated.
- What are the conditions in prison?
"Terrible. They arranged constant searches for me, they tried to plant some phones - and this despite the fact that there were four people in the cell, and not me alone. Without an interpreter, they were forced to sign some documents in Spanish.
But these are still trifles compared to what began after February 19. Local activist, defender of the rights of prisoners, Señor Espejo, came into conflict with two guards. Speaking in Russian, lawlessness began, and I stood up for Espejo - only in words - and I behaved extremely correctly. Despite this, one of the employees later wrote in the report that I was rude.
After that, I was tricked into being transferred to solitary confinement, claiming that it was only for one day. I realized that I had fallen into a trap. I was kept in inhumane conditions. For 23 hours and 30 minutes you are locked in a cell of six square meters. The toilet is clogged with feces, there is no water at all. For half an hour you are taken out for a walk in shackles on your arms and legs. At this point, if the guards are in the mood, they can give you a cigarette.
It was a real torture chamber. Only aggressive or crazy people are sent there. And I was placed there only because I was Russian and tried to defend myself. I didn't eat anything for three days. When I was brought to the next hearing, I complained to a friend of the special forces officer of the local Federal Penitentiary Service about the conditions. He, in turn, helped to contact the management, and I was transferred to the department to prisoners awaiting extradition. I am grateful to the director for stopping this torture.
In solitary confinement, I left a small message: with the help of a blue pen and a bag of ketchup, I drew the Russian flag, left the inscription "Glory, Mother Russia" in Spanish.
- Do you communicate with your family? How often?
- As in any prison, there is a landline phone from which I can call the bride, and she can transfer the call to my mother. As far as I know, now the prison staff are coordinating a video call to my mother, who recently underwent surgery and is on sick leave.
- © Photos from the personal archive
During this time, I cried only twice. When the relatives of my Colombian fiancée sang "Let the pedestrians run clumsily through puddles" on my birthday, and on New Year's Eve, when the baby nieces, congratulating me, said they loved me and were waiting for me.
Then I realized that I would dedicate myself to ensuring that a situation like this did to me would not happen to anyone else. I am still studying part-time at the university at the faculties of jurisprudence and linguistics and, given my character, I will not stop at obtaining diplomas. Colombian authorities have opened Pandora's box. My name will cause trepidation among everyone who dares to encroach on the fundamental rights of a Russian-speaking person abroad, regardless of his passport. Perhaps I'm here to find that particular meaning in life.
- Earlier you said that your imprisonment is the machinations of the previous authorities to win the elections. But the government has changed, and your situation has not. How would you comment on this?
- Indeed, the new president, Gustavo Petro. It was against him that this campaign was arranged, because of which I was imprisoned. Unfortunately, the president does not respond to my letters or hunger strikes. Perhaps Gustavo Petro will hear me from the TV screen or from the social networks of RT Español, to which he is subscribed?