A woman from Arkhangelsk Region is accused of involvement with the Lada-Rus party and discrediting the army.

The investigation has been completed in Arkhangelsk Region into the case of Lyudmila Korotkova, a resident of the town of Mirny, who is accused of involvement in the activities of the Volya party led by Svetlana Lada-Rus, and of distributing newspapers containing statements about the war between Russia and Ukraine. The end of the investigation was reported by the Arkhangelsk Region Investigative Committee, with further details of the case provided to OVD-Info by a human rights activist from Mirny.

Korotkova has been charged with involvement in the activities of an extremist organisation (Part 2, Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code), recruiting for an extremist organisation (Part 1.1, Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code), and discrediting the army (Part 1, Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code). The case materials were submitted to the court on 24 June.

According to a source at OVD-Info, the only evidence of the woman’s participation in an extremist organisation is the testimony of a witness who allegedly “understood from conversations” that Korotkova was linked to the Volya party and the All-People’s Union for the Revival of Russia (OSVR). However, neither the OSVR nor another group mentioned in Korotkova’s case, “We Build the Future Ourselves” (SBS), have been designated extremist organisations.

The charge of discrediting the army was brought against the Mirny resident because of three statements published in newspapers she distributed. One of them read: “When will the aims of the special military operation be achieved, if the fighting has already reached our own territory and drones are striking targets deep inside the country?” The other two claim that the Russia-Ukraine war was started by the “Jewish Chabad sect” in order to free up territories, and that “the presidents of both countries are ALLIES, NOT ENEMIES.”

• Svetlana Lada-Rus (Peunova) identifies as a “citizen of the USSR,” is a former chair of the Volya party, and founder of the “Svetlana Peunova Academy of Development.” She advocates for nationalising key sectors of the economy, abolishing “usury” in the banking system, and increasing social support for the population. Her ideology is also based on esoteric and mystical concepts: Lada-Rus claimed that humanity is under threat from “reptiloids” from Nibiru, and that salvation is possible only through a spiritual-maternal cult, purity of soul and prayer. The former head of Volya is on the international wanted list and has been arrested in absentia. In Russia, she faces criminal charges for fraud (Part 4, Article 159 of the Criminal Code), intentionally causing grievous bodily harm (Part 3, Article 111 of the Criminal Code), and creating a religious association that caused harm to citizens’ health (Part 1, Article 239 of the Criminal Code).