FSB opens treason case against Ruslan Sidiki, who is already serving 29 years for attacks on Russian military airfield and railway bombing
The Ryazan region branch of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened a new criminal case against Russian and Italian dual-citizen Ruslan Sidiki, who was sentenced in May 2025 to 29 years in prison for an attack on the Dyagilevo military airfield near the city of Ryazan, blowing up railway tracks, and preparing another act of sabotage. The rights project Ogni Svobody (lit. “Fires of…
The Federal Security Service (FSB) in Ryazan region has initiated a new criminal case against Ruslan Sidiki, a Russian and Italian dual citizen currently serving a 29-year prison sentence for attacks on military targets. Sidiki is now accused of treason, alongside previous charges of sabotage on a military airfield and railway bombing.
Russian rights group Ogni Svobody confirmed the treason allegations, citing accusations that Sidiki provided information to Ukraine’s military intelligence, carried out sabotage aligned with Ukrainian interests, and transferred money to support Ukraine’s armed forces via cryptocurrency exchange Binance. Despite these accusations, Sidiki's 2025 conviction already included allegations that supported the treason charge.
The FSB's decision comes after Sidiki's July 2023 drone attack on the Dyagilevo military airfield and his November 2023 railway bombing, which derailed 19 freight cars. He was previously convicted of planning another railway attack, but he denied involvement in that incident. In May 2025, a court sentenced Sidiki to 29 years in prison, with the first nine years in a stricter penal system and the remaining 20 years in a high-security penal colony.
His transfer to prison was delayed due to the new treason case. As a Russian citizen, Sidiki also holds Italian citizenship, and Italian consul Franco Fausto Salamena attended the court proceedings in May 2025. Sidiki claims he was tortured during his arrest, including beatings, electric shocks, and threats of sexual violence, which were documented by medical staff.
However, Russia's Investigative Committee repeatedly rejected his torture allegations, though the decision was later overturned. Sidiki's lawyer, Igor Popovsky, pushed for an investigation into the alleged torture and argued for Sidiki to be treated as a prisoner of war due to his actions allegedly benefiting Ukrainian military intelligence.
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