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How does modern Russian bureaucracy bury people alive within the very walls of their own homes? It all happens swiftly, simply, cynically, and with a kind of perverse sophistication. As has been the way for centuries in this inimitable Russian state.

Picture, for instance, the most ordinary morning. You wake up. As always, you brew your coffee. You gaze thoughtfully out the window. And suddenly, you realize that your home no longer exists. It wasn’t destroyed. It wasn’t burned down. It wasn’t blown up. It wasn’t flooded. It was simply stolen. Quietly and quickly. With a piece of paper bearing a judicial seal. How could such a thing happen? Very simply. While you were drinking your coffee, the faceless and ruthless Russian state machine cynically trampled your entire familiar life underfoot, then ground it to dust and spat it out with the cold, formulaic phrase: “The procedures have been followed!”

Sadly, this is no hyperbole — it is the real story of Russian citizens Evteev and Maramzina.

Where did it all begin? Let’s go through it step by step.

Moscow. A municipal apartment. A social rental agreement. Nothing out of the ordinary. Everything exactly as the law prescribes.

This is where a family lives, with their own everyday plans, just like any other. Every day starts the same: breakfast, children, the routine of life.

But then, over time, a sad event arrives: a divorce — a personal drama, certainly, but hardly the end of the world. Because the real end of the world came later. When the cruel Russian state machine unexpectedly declared: “Now — out of the apartment!”

THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

What should an ordinary citizen do in a situation like this? Naturally, the person goes to the local authorities, trying to seek justice. They believe they will surely be helped there. How could it be otherwise? They also believe, from the bottom of their heart, in the Russian state — the one they help sustain with their taxes. Alas, they are naive. Because in response to their legitimate requests and demands, they receive only standardized form letters. Robots in uniforms and ties recite the well-worn lines: “Refer to the Housing Code!”; “File a lawsuit!”; “Wait!”; “We’ll look into it!”

Not a single meaningful explanation. Not a single substantive argument. Just an endless “leave us alone,” cynically veiled in bureaucratic language.

And now — pay attention. This is the most horrifying part.

A TRIAL WHERE YOU ARE NOT PRESENT

I. V. Maramzina learns about the court case affecting her only after three hearings have already taken place. Three! Think about that. The decision is about to be handed down, and they didn’t even bother to invite her!

M. I. Evteev suddenly discovers that he has been removed from the registration list in absentia, with dubious and equally incomprehensible wording.

This issue, in theory, should shake any court to its core: can a case concerning the deprivation of a person’s only housing be considered without even inviting the person to the hearing? Essentially, deciding someone’s fate without them — as if marrying them off in their absence.

Surprisingly, the peculiar practice of these inimitable Russian courts shows that yes, it can. But this is no longer justice. It is more like miscarriage of justice — resembling an execution by default. Absurd? Then how else are we to understand what has happened? Who will explain?

“POLICE? NO, NEVER HEARD OF THEM!”

When a statement about death threats is filed, law enforcement simply stamps it with a bold “Received.” And that’s it. Full stop. No investigations. No witnesses interviewed. No proper follow-up. No adequate response.

In the end, the standard form letter arrives: “Criminal case not initiated” or “Materials attached to file.”

Later, the same apartment was burglarized. The damage amounted to over fourteen million rubles. Fourteen million. Let that sink in.

What was the outcome? As always, no real response. It all ends with another empty bureaucratic reply: “This is outside our jurisdiction.”

RUSSIAN COURTS: FORMALISM, NEGLIGENCE, OR MOCKERY?

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The Babushkinsky District Court did eventually rule in favor of the tenants. The law was on their side. It seemed the problem was solved and justice had prevailed. Alas, no. Not at all. For some judges, the law is indeed whatever they want it to be. Because the Moscow City Court unexpectedly overturned the decision. Without, in our view, any coherent justification, new evidence, or changed circumstances. Just like that. It turned everything upside down. And that was that.

The Second Cassation Court, for some reason, blindly sided with the plaintiffs. Unequivocally and irrevocably. And what happened to the defendants’ arguments? They might as well have never existed.

How did the country’s highest court — the Supreme Court — respond to all this? Did it order an investigation? Did it take any meaningful action in this blatant situation? Alas, no. Its panel merely copied the appellate ruling and refused to review the case further. The giants in robes didn’t even trouble themselves to write anything in their own words.

What is the result? Let’s call things by their real names. The case went through three instances. Three levels of protection. And not one of them works.

A reasonable question arises: does the Russian people even need such courts? Is it worth, while faithfully paying taxes, to feed a vicious dog that only bites the hand that feeds it?

What can be said about the Russian courts’ observance of the Constitution of the Russian Federation in the Evteev–Maramzina case? In our opinion, it was completely ignored. And the Housing Code of the Russian Federation? They missed the mark there, too. And what about the principle of adversarial proceedings? For many Russians, this now only provokes an ironic smile.

“WE ARE NOT PEOPLE TO THEM — WE ARE NUMBERS IN A REPORT”

These are not my words. They belong to I. V. Maramzina, and her voice trembles with pain.

“This is not justice — it’s mockery!”

And she is right.

The system doesn’t hit you or threaten you. It ignores you completely — while living at your expense. Slowly. Methodically. With the “surgical” precision of a surgeon cutting into a living patient without anesthesia.

On paper, everything looks fine: the contract is renewed, payments are made. But in reality, people are thrown out onto the street. And no one cares who lives in the seized apartment now, who is paying for it, or who is defending the rights of the former spouses.

THE MAIN THING IS THE FIGURE. THE PERSON IS JUST A COG

Needless to say, the Russian system of local self‑government has long been operating like a thoroughly rusted conveyor belt — one that belongs in the scrapyard. This system doesn’t care if you are a veteran, a disabled person, a mother of many children, or a pensioner. It doesn’t care that you once gave your health to this country. To it, you are just a rusty, broken cog — unscrewed and tossed away. Into the trash. All with the same infamous phrase: “The procedures have been followed!”

QUESTIONS THAT FALL ON DEAF EARS

Our publication directly addresses these urgent and burning questions to the Prosecutor General of Russia, Alexander Gutsan, and the Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, Igor Krasnov.

On what grounds did the Moscow City Court, in the Evteev–Maramzina case, overturn the first‑instance decision, depriving three Russian citizens of their housing and turning one of them into a classic homeless person?

Notably, this happened in violation of the constitutional right of Russian citizens to their only social housing and to its one‑time privatization.

How legal is this?

Why did the Second Cassation Court of General Jurisdiction fail to examine a single argument presented by the defendants?

Could there be a corrupt element here — which seems very likely, although we do not present personal opinion as general consensus?

Why did the Supreme Court panel simply copy the text of the appellate decision for its response, refusing to consider the case further and not wanting to look into anything?

Is this a formalistic approach or criminal negligence?

Who is currently using the seized apartment, and on what grounds?

We previously addressed these same questions to officials at the local level.

What was the result?

The official position of the prosecutor’s office: “Outside our jurisdiction.”

The police position, as always, is identical.

And how did local law enforcement react to the audio and video evidence of death threats?

As expected, with cynicism and bureaucracy: “Received. Put it down and go.”

AND NOW — THE MOST TERRIFYING PART!

The theft causing fourteen million rubles in damage is also “not being considered” now. Why? Apparently, according to the valiant giants of Russia’s “law enforcement,” this, too, falls under “civil law relations.” Really? So, in Russia, you can freely rob and steal — just call it a civil dispute? Have I missed anything? Does this principle, by any chance, also apply to murder?

As they say, it would all be funny if it weren’t so tragic.

Nevertheless, let’s return to our main subject.

All of the above is not just random gaps in the legislation. These are holes. Yawning, corruption‑ridden holes. Deliberately created for those sitting in high offices. Created by people just like them. The simple truth is: one hand washes the other.

WHY IS THE LAW SILENT?

The reasons are obvious.

There is no mechanism for changing the list of tenants after a divorce.

There are no sanctions for officials issuing formalistic, empty replies.

There are no clear criteria for actual residence in a municipal apartment.

Hence the reasonable question: are all these oversights accidental, or is this deliberate sabotage?

Or perhaps the current Russian system is intentionally designed to enable social and legal arbitrariness? So that the victim spends years, money, and health — and still ends up with nothing. It certainly looks that way. But again, we do not present personal opinion as common knowledge.

THIS AFFECTS EVERY RUSSIAN CITIZEN!

Social rental housing is, in effect, “no‑man’s” housing.

It is where large families, veterans, disabled persons, and pensioners live — those who do not have twenty million rubles to buy a one‑room apartment in Moscow. And when the cynical state system malfunctions yet again, the most vulnerable are the ones who get hit.

They are not beaten. They are cynically thrown out onto the street.

WHAT CAN BE DONE? ONLY BY BREAKING THE SYSTEM!

How exactly?

First, mandatory mediation before going to court — so that the parties sit down at the negotiating table. Second, strict penalties for officials who issue form letters. Every formal response should trigger a mandatory, thorough investigation. Then — a reprimand, loss of bonuses, dismissal. If the damage is significant — criminal liability for negligence.

A “Hotline” for social rental housing should be established. A single number where a real response is given within 10 days. No delays. No “wait.”

AMENDMENTS TO THE HOUSING CODE

We consulted lawyers and deputies. Unfortunately, some of them were not even aware of the scale of the problem.

Here are three amendments that do not require money — only political will.

First, a clear list of уважительные (valid) reasons for absence: military service, medical treatment, business trip, caring for a sick relative, studying in another city — none of these should be grounds for eviction.

The minimum period of absence required to be deemed “no longer residing” should be 1 year. At the same time, the administration must prove that the person has other housing. Otherwise, there must be a presumption of non‑guilt!

Absentia evictions must be banned, and all such cases over the past twenty years must be subject to mandatory review and re‑examination.

Deprivation of housing should only be possible in the presence of the tenant or their representative.

HOW MANY MORE FAMILIES MUST GO THROUGH THIS KIND OF HELL?

How many more pensioners could be left without a roof over their heads due to such a cynical attitude from the Russian state? How many more children will grow up in fear that they could be kicked out onto the street at any moment? How many more Evteevs and Maramzinas must have their lives destroyed before the system finally starts working for the people, rather than against them, instead of enabling social and legal arbitrariness and the seizure of people’s last refuge?

We demand:

A re‑examination of the Evteev–Maramzina case, with an in‑depth investigation into the negligence and possible corruption of officials and judges, and real changes to Russian legislation.

INSTEAD OF AN EPILOGUE

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In a state where human rights are not just an empty phrase, justice should not depend on one’s position, surname, or the thickness of their wallet.

In today’s Russia, unfortunately, it depends on all of these very much.

But we are not staying silent.

Our publication will continue to follow the developments in the Evteev–Maramzina case. And the truth will be made public, one way or another. Because justice is not a privilege reserved for the Kremlin — it is a universal right that, hopefully, every Russian citizen still possesses. For if, in reality, it does not exist, then the cruel, soulless, and cynical state machine will inevitably come for you, too. So think about all of this while there is still time. Otherwise, things will only get worse.

Dmitry Darmodekhin

Editor‑in‑Chief of the journal
“World Community”

Vice‑Rector of the University
of Natural and Humanitarian Sciences
(Moscow)