A St Petersburg resident has been fined for failing to report an acquaintance’s application to join “Freedom of Russia.”

The Dzerzhinsky District Court of St Petersburg has fined Maksim Tsvetkov 50,000 rubles (approx. US$550) under the article on failure to report a crime (Article 205.6 of the Criminal Code). Mediazona reports, citing the city’s unified press office for the courts.

According to the prosecution, Tsvetkov was aware but did not inform law enforcement that in spring 2022, his acquaintance put up posters displaying the “Freedom of Russia” legion’s symbols in the Moskovsky district of St Petersburg and submitted an application to join the organisation. The acquaintance was later charged with promoting terrorism, participating in a terrorist community, and joining a terrorist organisation.

Tsvetkov was questioned as a witness in his acquaintance’s case, at which point he spoke about the posters and the application. After that, a criminal case was opened against him as well. Tsvetkov fully admitted guilt.