In Yekaterinburg, a major city in the Urals, the owner of a spa centre was fined 400,000 roubles (approximately US$4,400) over two donations to the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK).

In Yekaterinburg, a major city in the Urals, a court fined the owner of a SPA centre 400,000 rubles (approximately US$4,370) on charges of financing extremist activity (part 1 of article 282.3 of the Criminal Code), reports Mediazona.

At the request of their relatives, the publication is not disclosing the businessman’s real name or the court that delivered the verdict.

The prosecutor had requested a fine of 600,000 rubles (approximately US$6,560).

The defence asked for an acquittal. Since February, the man had been under a travel ban.

The prosecution was triggered by two donations to the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK). According to the investigation, on 19 August and 19 September 2021, the man transferred 1,000 rubles (about US$11) each to FBK.

The businessman insisted he had made the transfers by mistake. He said he is involved in charity and frequently donates to Rusfond, which, like FBK, uses the Stripe platform. On the day he set up recurring donations to FBK, he was making many payments and preparing for his daughter’s birthday, so does not remember how he ended up on that particular payment page. Since the page did not indicate where the money was going, he thought he was making donations to Rusfond. He also could not recall how he unsubscribed from FBK donations.

The businessman partially admitted guilt. He did not deny that the money was withdrawn from his card but maintained he had not intended to send money specifically to FBK.