Search
A criminal case has been opened against Mikhail Bitov for repeated violation of the rules for holding public rallies (Article 212.1 of the Criminal Code). This was reported by the Telegram channel on the persecution of National Bolsheviks, “National Legal Defence.”
On 1 April, around seven in the morning, security forces came to Bitov’s home. They conducted a search and seized party paraphernalia, clothing, stationery and electronic devices.
Alongside Bitov, another activist, Alina Antonova, was detained and held at the police station for several hours.
Today, the court will decide on a pre-trial restraint for the National Bolshevik.
This year, Bitov has twice been subjected to administrative penalties under the article on rallies (Article 20.2 of the Administrative Code). In January, he was fined 20,000 roubles (about US$220) for a picket against internet blockings, and in February he was arrested for five days for putting up leaflets in support of Kuban National Bolsheviks detained at the ‘Limonov Readings’ in Krasnodar, a large city in southern Russia. The judges did not recognise the first protest as a solo picket, but classified it as a group picket, and described putting up leaflets as a march. Both court verdicts have already come into force.
3 April The previous day, the Leninsky District Court in Yaroslavl, a large city northeast of Moscow, imposed a ban on certain actions as a pre-trial restraint for Bitov. This was reported by the “National Legal Defence” channel.
The court hearing was held behind closed doors.
- Article 212.1 was introduced into the Criminal Code in 2014. It was nicknamed the “Dadinskaya” article after the first person convicted under it, Moscow activist Ildar Dadin. In 2017, in relation to his case, the Constitutional Court recommended opening cases under this article only if the person’s actions posed a threat to society. Despite this, enforcement agencies have continued to use Article 212.1 against activists whose actions did not pose any threat.