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Veteran who threatened Putin with armed insurrection arrested
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด Romania /Crime & Justice

Veteran who threatened Putin with armed insurrection arrested

From Adevฤƒrul · () Romanian

Translated from Romanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A Russian veteran, Aleksandr Lunin, who threatened an armed insurrection against President Putin, has been arrested.
  • Lunin had demanded a meeting with Putin to discuss alleged mistreatment of soldiers by military commanders.
  • His arrest followed a video threat and a subsequent search of his home, with his wife reporting confiscated electronic devices.

A Russian veteran who issued a stark warning to President Vladimir Putin, threatening an armed insurrection if his demands were not met, has been arrested. Aleksandr Lunin had publicly called for a meeting with Putin at the Kremlin to address what he described as abuses committed by military commanders against soldiers.

Lunin's threat gained significant traction online, with his video messages circulating widely on social media. In a second video, he reiterated his demand, stating, "If I don't get to the Kremlin soon and speak directly, right next to you, the army will turn its weapons against the Kremlin." He claimed he was merely relaying a message, suggesting that high-ranking officials within the Ministry of Defense and security services had prompted him to record the statement.

If I don't get to the Kremlin soon and speak directly, right next to you, the army will turn its weapons against the Kremlin.

โ€” Aleksandr LuninA threat made in a video message demanding a meeting with President Putin.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged hearing about the video but stated that neither Putin nor the presidential administration had viewed it, describing the phrasing as "bizarre" and requiring review. Independent Russian publications verified Lunin's identity, reporting him as a 39-year-old veteran of the war in Ukraine from the Voronezh region. They noted he had previously used the surname Pustovalov, legally changing it in 2023 after reportedly being removed from Russia's official list of "extremists."

Lunin's wife, Tatiana Lunina, announced his arrest and the search of their home in the Voronezh region. She reported that law enforcement officers confiscated various items, including USB storage devices, computers, laptops, a hard drive, and nunchucks. Initially unable to contact her husband, she feared he might have been arrested or simply unreachable. Later, she confirmed he was alive and well, relaying his request for her to cease posting information, giving interviews, or responding to comments.

Judging by your description, the phrasing seems quite bizarre. We need to see the recording first.

โ€” Dmitry PeskovKremlin spokesperson's initial reaction to Lunin's video threat.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Adevฤƒrul in Romanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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