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Valeriya Kuznetsova, a resident of Cherepovets in Vologda Oblast, has been fined 25,000 rubles (approx. US$270) for comments about a “peaceful march against Filimonovshchina” (the name a reference to the region’s governor). This was reported by the publication Ostorozhno, Novosti.

The decision to fine her was issued by the Cherepovets City Court on 9 August. According to the court, Kuznetsova posted a message in eight Vologda city social media groups calling people to gather on Metallurgov Square in Cherepovets on 17 August and then begin the march. The comment said:

“If we do nothing ourselves, then nothing will happen. We allow officials to create lawlessness with our indifference and laziness. Angry comments under posts in local groups are useless, officials do not respond to them, other methods are needed. We need to go outside, draw maximum attention to the dire situation and conditions in Vologda Oblast.”

The court considered this comment to be “an appeal for citizens to participate in a planned public event.”

At the hearing, the Cherepovets resident explained that they had seen information about the march on VKontakte, so “wanted to show support and wrote posts in various communities.”

“As for the requirement to coordinate the holding of a public event with the local government authorities, I did not know about it, and I admit my guilt regarding the violation,” the court ruling says.

The court found Valeriya Kuznetsova guilty of organising a public event without submitting notification (Part 2, Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

  • The initiator of the march was another Cherepovets resident, Anna-Liliya Largus. She had submitted an application to the city hall to coordinate the event, but Kuznetsova’s comments were written before that.
  • The city hall refused to approve Largus’s demonstration, citing mistakes in the application. She learned about this at the court hearing, where she was also fined 10,000 rubles (approx. US$110) under the same article as Valeriya Kuznetsova.
  • The governor of Vologda Oblast, Georgy Filimonov, is the initiator of the region’s abortion ban and new restrictions on alcohol sales. Local residents have called for his resignation.