A criminal case has been opened against a resident of Irkutsk region, Siberia, for criticising the military and Russia Day.

A criminal case has been opened against Maria Makhmutova, a 35-year-old resident of Irkutsk region in Siberia, who criticised Russia Day and participants in the war in Ukraine, on charges of insulting a police officer (Article 319 of the Criminal Code). This was reported by the press service of the regional Investigative Committee. The outlet 7×7 drew attention to this.

According to investigators, the woman insulted a police officer on her social media account and “used obscene language against him.”

Previously, Makhmutova was formally charged with “discrediting the army” (Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences) because of a video published on her Instagram page on 12 June.

“What kind of holiday is it, for fuck’s sake? An amazing holiday—Russia Day. And what about you lot, have you got anything to be proud of, for fuck’s sake? What exactly are you proud of? Living—barely scraping by, for fuck’s sake? That you have to kill people so you can buy yourselves cars and flats, for fuck’s sake, and drink like it’s your last day, and wear those fucking medals. Your medals today are a mark for life, a brand for life, showing that you are fucking murderers. …> If all those ‘SMO’ people die tomorrow, I’ll drink wine,” said Maria Makhmutova.

After this, activists from the pro-government movement “Voice of the People” reported her to the Investigative Committee and the Office of the Prosecutor General. Soon after, Makhmutova posted a video with an apology in which she said she was not ready to be separated from her child, cried, and attempted to harm herself.

The day after the video was published, law enforcement officers came to her home. They said the woman did not open the door and threatened to harm herself, and on the way to the police station she allegedly tried to escape several times. Makhmutova was placed in a psychiatric ward, from which she was discharged shortly before the criminal case was opened.

The Investigative Committee stated that it is continuing its investigation into the Irkutsk resident under the article on discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code).

19 June Maria Makhmutova was detained again. This was reported by Ircity.ru, citing local law enforcement. News of the detention emerged on the evening of 18 June.

25 June A magistrate court judge in the Kirovsky district of Irkutsk sentenced Maria Makhmutova to 13 days’ administrative detention. This was reported on the Ministry of Internal Affairs website.

According to law enforcement, after the woman was brought in for investigative actions as part of the criminal case for insulting a police officer, she “kicked” a law enforcement officer.

Another formal charge was brought against the woman under the administrative article on battery (Article 6.1.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

“Later she also bit a police officer—this could lead to criminal liability for her,” law enforcement officials added.

The Interior Ministry statement also notes that during the court hearing regarding the battery charge, the woman “continued to behave provocatively and disrespectfully.”