Escape with the “Troll factory”

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Побег с "фабрики троллей"

A former employee of the company street Savushkina – about how life works inside the den ol’ginskiy bots”

Two years ago in St. Petersburg “Troll factory” in the street Savushkina 55, came the announcement of a young girl Olga Maltsev. Having worked in the Department of blogs, a paid commentator a little over a year, in autumn 2015 she found out she was pregnant. Maltsev went to the magistrate to grant her maternity leave, but was rebuffed, and threats. Now she waits for court which should consider the claim to the company “Internet research” which is what lies behind the Pro-Kremlin paid thousands of posts and comments online.

That this firm organizes the work of paid Pro-government bloggers and commentators (they are also called “Olginskaya” – at the place of first registration of the company), became known for more than a year ago, after the revelations of another employee of the company Ludmila Savchuk. However, between the stories Savchuk and Maltseva there is an important difference: the first argued that purpose was introduced to the “factory of the trolls, to tell the world the truth about her. Maltsev came to street Savushkina only the intent to make money. In the end, she had to literally run from the office, scattering along the path blocks the path of the guards. About what happened between these two moments in her life and about the threats in his address from the management of OOO “Internet research,” Maltsev told Radio Svoboda:

When did you start working at Savushkina 55? And what was the reason for this choice of work?

– In August 2014 I was looking for a new job, as gone with the old, and stumbled on the Internet on the ad. Just at that moment I started to write, and thought that I would be interested to develop in this area. But I didn’t know what kind of office and what he does. Responded. I called back and was invited for an interview. At first to me spoke the woman, as I understand it, from HR, I guess. She gave me the job that I did four hours. There were a lot of people. After that I said I would call back. A few days back and was invited for an interview to the Director. Auditioned and the next day went to work.

– What questions were asked during the interview? What questions to ask the Director?

Asked about what he did before, what worked, why I came here. Asked a few questions about what I think about politics, but I about it knew nothing. So I replied briefly. Asked why he decided to write. When I came to the interview, was sick and wrote badly, and I wanted to determine in the beginning in the commentators. But after it when I saw my blog decided to make me a blogger because I write well.

– What division you were in?

In the area of blogs. I wrote 12 posts a day. At first it was ten, then became 12, on political topics, and comments are different. Comments were both in social and political issues. Any could be written. Wrote in LJ. It was spread in the media into perspective. In which needed. The distribution of some opinions about the political situation in the country and Ukraine.

– There exists a special Department which works only in Ukraine?

– There is in all departments is reviewed and Ukrainian history, Russia and Syria. At that time, perhaps, Ukraine was still larger in volume, but in a period when Syria had worsened the situation, there was a lot of Syria. But more was still in Ukraine.

– No Department, which wrote in Arabic?

There’s no such thing, I don’t know. Might have been, but I do not know.

– Was there a Department whose staff wrote on Europe or USA English?

“There was something. Someone wrote in English. But I do not know the details, because we never talked about it. Work and work. And the rest is none of your business. We mainly talked with the guys only from your Department.

From the information that leaked from the Troll factory, it is clear that the working conditions there are tough enough. Of people fine, take out the reprimands. The conditions in which you worked?

– First was OK, the staff was friendly. No strict rules were not. After the situation with Luda Savchuk became harder, all monitories, was introduced strict control, to the extent that each floor was closed. If you work on the third floor, and I worked on the third, then on the other floor you can. All social networks monitories, everything you post, your correspondence, and may have even wiretapped telephone conversations. I’m not sure but I was told that it is so.

– You photographed your IP of the computer that worked, and it turned out that this IP 109.167.231.85, according to the site “Fontanka.<url>”, made the changes on the website whoiswhos.me, which published the data members of the opposition, which was beaten and cars which were on fire. According to “Fontanka”, on this website has accumulated data about the bloggers who allow critical reviews in relation to power. The database is extensive, “cards” of some of the personalities abound in such detail, as the scan of the passport or tax number. After the hype in the media, the site stopped working. You knew something about it?

“I did not know. I just took a picture of the IP for the court, for evidence. A member of the bar “Team 29” Daria Sukhikh told me that it is necessary to collect all sorts of material, as much as possible, to prove that I worked in this organization. And I decided to photograph the IP just in case. It turned out that it helped journalists to find the connection between “trolls” and attacks on the opposition (investigators link the attack with the name “Putin’s cook” Eugene Prigogine, who, according to unconfirmed information, finances and “Troll factory”. – RS).

Побег с "фабрики троллей"

 

– What was the reaction of the authorities when you approached him with a request to grant you maternity leave in connection with pregnancy?

When I learned that the position I went to the manual to learn about the decree, as entitled by law. I was told that we have in the office for formal employment – the turn that it is not so easy to get, and generally do not pay. Advised to leave, if you do not like. Then, when the time came to go on maternity leave, I went again to talk. I, basically, said the same thing and began to push me to quit. I said to leave I will not come for the salary, and then quit. Then I got a call before pay day, it seems, the seventh of March, and reported, that issued a salary. I realized that here something not so. Of course, money was needed, and we went together with my husband – I was scared [to go alone] on the thirtieth week of pregnancy. You never know what these people are capable of? We got there. There sat many people on the staff. I was invited to sign some documents. I began to suspect that here something not so. Asked what document? I was told that on the dismissal. I said that the first to get salary and then sign the document. I was seated at the table, gave the money. I took them and went. For me ran. I understand that the urgent need to escape. Ran from the third to the first floor. They shouted: “Catch that girl!”

Some guy tried to catch me, I pushed him away and he fell, and I ran on. On the ground floor, already crowded by the guards. Don’t know what they wanted to do. They shouted: “Give money!” My husband came, he said to me do not touch. Then a man came out from the first floor, kind of like the head of security, I do not remember his name, took us to the room, talked briefly, he asked why I shot the video in the organization. But it is evidence that I did, it was not. Where I was shooting, there were no cameras. And in half an hour he let us go. So I’m not signing anything, left.

– You really wanted to check on a polygraph, lie detector?

– Yes, it was. On the penultimate day, when I was working, I asked: “Who is not held converse on the polygraph?” I sat in silence. For me the chief is trying to send to the conversation. I answered him that I could not pass the interview on a lie detector, as pregnant for medical reasons it is forbidden to do. Then he tells me to bring a certificate from the doctor. Of course! I just learned that in all normal organizations that are engaged in such a test, there are certain limitations: you can not pass a polygraph for pregnant women, people with mental disabilities and those who are prone to such mental illness. Since I was pregnant, then I, by law, the polygraph was contraindicated.

– All employees of the Troll factory are tested on the lie detector?

– Yes, they all pass through this thing. As far as I know, there after the situation with me again “chased” through the polygraph. Someone even got fired, I’m told. And all with whom I communicated at work, forbidden to communicate with me. Since I no longer wrote. I tried to write myself, but I didn’t answer. Well, okay. Their business in principle.

– Your spouse recorded phone conversation with your former boss, Oleg Vasiliev, who threatened you in trouble if you don’t shut up. It was in reality?

– Yes, there was a conversation. He called on March 8. Offered us hush money, so we can’t post online. They came up with that from me, supposedly, going to make a violent opposition, that I am stupid that I fell for it, and why I want it. You will have, say, the family, and what you the hype? It will be because a bunch of journalists who will write about it all sorts of crap. Let’s make this a good deal. In General, everything that was enough of their imagination. Threatened that we will pursue all sorts of activists.

“Journalists, they’re such bitches all throw it out the Internet!” – is the recording of the phone conversation of the husband of Olga Maltseva, Sergei with her former boss, the head of the Department blogs “Troll factory” Oleg Vassiliev:

“You see, dear Luda Savchuk became the heroine, she picked up the journalists, she’s hyped, she’s in Brussels or somewhere else, and so on. There is a such a PR like personality, media personality, everything develops. Why did this happen? Because she immediately began to sculpt the legend that she is a heroic spy, it was calculated and implemented to the damned rascals to work. Well, here, see if this situation will arise with Olga, then it is not a ride. Olga worked two years if I’m not mistaken, and all this time that she worked, she praised the damned rascals, you bloody regime supported, I’m sorry, but the post on the wall Vkontakte pictures about what a good bloody dictator and a scoundrel Putin that he’s a wonderful, cursed the companions Ukrainians, on the other side, and all that it takes quite a long time. Now look, starting from her these wonderful well-wishers to mold, so to speak, a PR person. And then what will fall on Olya online? The fact that she worked for two years, and then she did not go forward, you know, and she was offended.

And these journalists, they’re such bitches! Sorry, I will call a spade a spade. They all throw in the Internet, you understand what she wrote, and wrote. But what if this caught the eye of some unscrupulous, say, bad companions at all, which is bad and which on the other side of the border are staying in Ukraine? Then the reaction may be different. I have one employee with security goes, for example. And Ola we are, unfortunately, to ensure the safety, you know, we can’t. So when it all becomes public knowledge, and I understand that dear Luda Savchuk spins on it’s for you, then you figure out all the options. I in any case, let’s say, not threatening, but just want you all the options figured out”.

Now Olga Maltseva waiting for the summons of the Nevsky district of St. Petersburg. It supports “Team 29”, the head of which is a well – known lawyer Ivan Pavlov. This is the second trial in which the accused party is a factory trolley – OOO “Internet research”. The first process in which a Prosecutor was made by a former employee of “Troll factory” Ludmila Savchuk, “Internet research” has already lost. However, the people demanded (and received) from the “Troll factory” only a symbolic compensation of 1 ruble. The amount of the claim by Olga Maltseva – more than 300 thousand rubles: includes the requirement of documenting the employment relationship, payment of benefits for pregnancy, childbirth or in connection with the care of the child till the age of 1.5 years. Also in the lawsuit included claims of compensation caused by Olga moral damages in the amount of 50 thousand rubles.

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