Speaking from Biarritz in southwestern France, Osechkin explained why he believes the Russian secret services tried to kill him last September.
Gulagu.net, an NGO he founded a decade ago, revealed the "torture system" taking in place in Russian prisons, he said, and the "secret services are afraid [of facing the] International Criminal Court" were the world to find out about their human rights violations.
Asked about Ukrainian prisoners of war being held in Russia, Osechkin said that before the full-scale invasion, "we were telling the world about the systematic rape in Russian jails with videotapes to intimidate the inmates.
We thought this was the worst we could ever see and reveal. But beginning [on] February 24, 2022, we have found ourselves in a more horrifying reality." The Russian dissident claimed that a "newly formed concentration camp" now exists in over 10 Federal Penintentiary Services (FSIN) in Russia.