The court upheld the fine imposed on the OVD-Info press secretary for involvement in an “undesirable organisation”

The Moscow City Court upheld the fine of 10,000 rubles (about US$110) imposed on OVD-Info press secretary Dmitry Anisimov under the article on participating in the activities of an “undesirable organisation” (Article 20.33 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Anisimov told OVD-Info about the ruling. Previously, this decision was handed down by the Simonovsky District Court in Moscow.

The case was triggered by our press secretary’s participation in a discussion about political repression in Russia on the YouTube channel “Transit.” The channel is linked to the Free Russia Foundation project, which Russian authorities declared an “undesirable organisation” in 2019.

Anisimov considers the prosecution against him unlawful.

“It is precisely the freedom of interpretation enshrined in the law regarding ‘participation in the activities of an undesirable organisation’ that gives law enforcement the opportunity to label anything as such and arbitrarily pursue Russians.

My prosecution is unlawful, because this very decision has nothing to do with the legal framework. I plan to appeal it. Of course, I have no illusions about the outcome, but it’s important to me to defend freedom of speech by all available means.”

Following the decision of the Moscow City Court, Anisimov told OVD-Info that he plans to challenge the fine further.