A resident of Chelyabinsk, a major city in the Urals, is on trial for charges of state treason, justifying terrorism, and inciting extremism.

The Central District Military Court in Yekaterinburg is hearing the case of 52-year-old Chelyabinsk resident Aleksandr Novosad over online comments and a transfer of 15,000 roubles (approximately US$160), reports Mediazona.

According to the investigation, from October 2022 to 12 May 2023, Novosad “established contact with a representative of Ukraine and, using the bank accounts of individuals misled by representatives of a foreign state and unaware of his criminal activities,” made five transfers to a Russian card totalling 15,000 roubles (approximately US$160). On this basis, he was charged with state treason (Art. 275). The defence insists that Novosad transferred the money for “humanitarian purposes.”

Several counts of justifying terrorism (Part 2, Art. 205.2 of the Criminal Code) and incitement to extremism (Part 2, Art. 280 of the Criminal Code) have been levelled against him over comments in Telegram channels “Krem,” “Chelyabinsk of the Future,” “NeXTALive,” “Rospartisan” and “Rosbunt.” In particular, he wrote: “Death to Putin,” “Death to Putinist sect members,” “Glory to Ukraine,” “Freedom to the Ural Republic,” “Our task is to achieve victory over the dictatorial regime, to help and support volunteers. This is what we can and must do,” “Helping Russian citizens fighting on the side of Ukraine is the duty of all Russians, it leads to the overthrow of the Kremlin regime,” and also “ISIS, go to work, brothers.”

Novosad was detained at the end of March last year, but the charge of state treason was only brought against him a year later.