The court has transferred a resident of Kaliningrad, who is being prosecuted for donating to FBK, from a remand prison to house arrest.

On 19 December, the Central District Court of Kaliningrad eased the pre-trial restrictions for Anton Zhigalov, reports Svobodny Kaliningrad. He faces charges of financing extremist activity (Part 1, Article 282.3 of the Russian Criminal Code) because of seven donations to the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), each of 300 rubles (around US$3.30).

The police investigator asked for him to remain in custody.

The outlet notes that Zhigalov’s children, aged 12 and 13, attended the hearing, but Judge Olga Minakova demanded they leave the courtroom.

During the hearing, the judge interrupted the defence lawyer and threatened to have them removed, but in the end ruled in favour of the defendant.

• Zhigalov was detained and sent to a pre-trial detention facility in October. He said that in custody, he was not allowed to call his wife or use the library.