The Irkutsk Regional Court has unexpectedly returned to examining evidence in the case of 53-year-old farmer Andrey Padalka from Altai Krai, who is accused of treason. The prosecution alleges Padalka photographed the Irkutsk Polymer Plant and transmitted the images to the Crimean Tatar organization "ATesh," which is recognized as extremist in Russia. Padalka claims he was photographing sand and gravel for a logistician and did not send any images to "ATesh."

Padalka and his defense team successfully argued for the court to summon a witness who had not been interrogated during the nearly two years of proceedings. The defense also highlighted that the logistician, who Padalka claims requested the photos, was never brought into the case. The prosecutor in the case has also changed. Padalka was detained on October 16, 2024, and his defense states that FSB officers held him in a safe house for approximately six months under the guise of state protection, with his family only learning of his whereabouts in April 2025. Padalka alleges he was beaten and threatened with rape in pre-trial detention.