According to Gudkov's father, former State Duma Deputy Gennady Gudkov, his son only learned about any supposedly outstanding debt during his detention. "This is a purge of my family," the elder Gudkov told RFE/RL by telephone from Bulgaria. "It is revenge against Dmitry and revenge against me. Apparently, they are under orders to find any pretext to prevent Dmitry Gudkov from running in the elections and to prevent me from returning to Russia."
"It is clear that this is just political vengeance, and it is not only aimed at us but at our aides, our employees, our colleagues, the people with whom we work, and so on," he added. "It is just naked, cynical revenge within the framework of overall lawlessness. As the saying goes, if you want to get someone, you can find a crime. I think they are operating under this principle."