A Moscow resident was fined 20,000 roubles (approximately US$220) for holding a picket in support of political prisoners.

The Meshchansky District Court of Moscow fined activist Sergei Demin 20,000 roubles (approximately US$220) under the article on violating the procedure for holding a public event (Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences). SOTAvision reports.

On 31 August, Demin went to the Solovetsky Stone with a placard reading “Freedom to political prisoners.” Police officers detained him and drew up two reports: one for violating the rules for holding an event, and another for disobeying the police (Article 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

In court, the activist insisted that he was not standing directly by the FSB building, but rather in the pedestrian area behind the Solovetsky Stone. His defence asked for the case to be closed, but the court imposed a fine on Demin. For the other infraction, Demin was jailed for 15 days under the article on disobeying the police. On 14 September, he was released from the detention centre.

This was not the activist’s first prosecution for holding solo pickets: in July, Demin staged a protest on Triumfalnaya Square with a placard saying “Peace to the World.” On 18 September, the court fined him 50,000 roubles (approximately US$550) under the article on “discrediting” the army (20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences). The activist timed his picket to coincide with the State Duma elections, which he saw as an opportunity for change, and also said that he protests against the war and the killing of people.