A criminal case has been opened against a resident of Kirov for donating to FBK over a transfer of 2,100 roubles (approximately US$23).

In Kirov, a city in central Russia, a criminal case has been opened against 33-year-old local resident Alexey Kuznetsov over donations to the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK). This was reported by Mediazona, citing a resolution from the Novovyatsky District Court in Kirov.

The case against Kuznetsov was launched under the article on financing extremist activities (Part 1, Article 282.3 of the Russian Criminal Code). According to the indictment, he set up a monthly donation of 300 roubles (about US$3) on 5 August 2021. By 5 February 2022, he had transferred a total of 2,100 roubles (about US$23) to the FBK. Law enforcement officers stated that the donations came from Kuznetsov’s account at “T-Bank” to a merchant account serviced by two acquiring banks. The names of the banks are not disclosed in the court document.

The case against Kuznetsov reached the Novovyatsky court at the end of May. At the beginning of June, the judge ruled to transfer the case to the Savyolovsky District Court in Moscow, as Kuznetsov made the transfers to the FBK while in Moscow. The Moscow court has not yet registered the case materials. The defendant himself requested that the case be heard in his place of residence.

It is not known exactly when Kuznetsov was detained. At the end of April, he was added to Rosfinmonitoring’s “list of terrorists and extremists.”

• In 2021, the FBK was declared an extremist organisation. On 4 August 2021, this decision came into force after being upheld by an appellate court. Transfers to the FBK made after this date have been classified by the Russian authorities as financing extremist activities.