A 14-year-old school student from Stavropol, a city in southern Russia, has been sentenced to community service for graffiti that read “Navalny.”

A 14-year-old schoolgirl from Stavropol, a major city in southern Russia, was sentenced to 70 hours of community service for the word “Navalny” written at a bus stop. This was reported by her lawyer.

The young resident of Stavropol was found guilty under the article on vandalism (Part 1, Article 214 of the Russian Criminal Code). The sentence was handed down by a magistrate judge in the 6th district of the Oktyabrsky area of Stavropol.

The district administration was recognised as the victim in the case. Representatives of the authority refused in principle to discontinue the case by settlement, but asked the court to impose the minimum punishment on the schoolgirl.

The girl was detained on 16 February this year, the first anniversary of Alexei Navalny’s death. She was soon released, but the same day searches were carried out at her home and her parents.’ As a result, the schoolgirl’s phone was seized. During the investigation, the accused was under an obligation to appear when summoned.

• On 16 February 2024, the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) announced the death of Alexei Navalny in a prison colony. According to the agency’s version, the politician fell ill after a walk and soon died. One year later, on this day, at least 37 people were detained in 15 Russian cities as they gathered at monuments in their hometowns to honour Navalny’s memory.