News

The Primorsky District Court of St Petersburg has jailed St Petersburg State University lecturer Mikhail Suvorov for 10 days over a pro-Ukrainian social media post from three years ago, reports “Rotonda.”

His phone was also confiscated. Suvorov is a professor in the Department of Arabic Studies at the Faculty of Oriental Studies, St Petersburg State University. In March 2022, he published a post on VKontakte with a slogan in support of Ukraine. He was charged under an administrative article for displaying extremist symbols (Article 20.3 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offences).

In court, Suvorov expressed remorse, explaining that he had made the post for his Ukrainian friends and had forgotten to delete it.

2 July The management of St Petersburg State University launched an internal investigation in connection with Mikhail Suvorov’s administrative arrest. The university stated that the lecturer had submitted a resignation letter.

According to TASS, in addition to posting the slogan “Glory to Ukraine,” Suvorov’s page also featured symbols associated with the “Freedom of Russia Legion,” which is banned in Russia.

A report has been filed against former Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty editor Ivan Belyaev for participating in the activities of an ‘undesirable organisation’ (Article 20.33 of the Administrative Code). The case card on the court website of Vologda, a city in the Russian northwest, was noticed by Mediazona.

The specific reason for the administrative case is unknown.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was classified as an “undesirable organisation” in February 2024. Belyaev himself was added to the “foreign agent” register in December 2021.

A 46-year-old photographer from Yalta is facing charges over a collage featuring aerial gymnasts in a church. This was reported by the Crimean Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The man is accused under the article on violating legislation regarding freedom of conscience, freedom of religion, and religious associations (Part 2, Article 5.26 of the Code of Administrative Offences). His photograph depicted aerial gymnasts performing routines in the fourteenth-century Armenian church Surb Yegia.

As reported by the Telegram channel “ChP Crimea,” at first the police thought the photoshoot was real: “The gymnasts performed tricks on aerial silks suspended from the dome of the ruined, but still visited, church. The Armenian community regarded what happened as desecration of the shrine. The photographer has already apologised and deleted the pictures. The police are dealing with participants in the photoshoot,” the publication stated. It was later discovered that the images of the gymnasts were superimposed onto the photo of the church with Photoshop. The photographer explained that they had no intention of offending the feelings of believers, and made the collage because they “liked the beauty and grandeur of the site.”

A resident of Kemerovo, a major city in Siberia, was fined 10,000 roubles (US$110) for a photo with the caption: “Well, cops are always faggots, what else can you say!” This was reported by the Telegram channel “Kuzbass Without Extremism,” which is affiliated with law enforcement agencies.

The Kirovsky District Court found the 42-year-old man guilty of inciting hatred (Article 20.3.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences) against law enforcement officers.

Voronezh activist Anzhela Gushchina has been fined 30,000 rubles (approx. US$335) under the article on “discrediting” the Russian army, following an anti-war comment. This was reported by the Telegram channel “Free People of Voronezh.”

On 20 June, the activist’s home in the town of Liski, a locality near Voronezh in western Russia, was searched. Security forces seized electronic devices and then took Gushchina to Voronezh for questioning. During the interrogation, they tried to find out who administers “Free People of Voronezh.” Afterwards, a police report was drawn up against the activist for a comment made in the chat of the Telegram channel “VorNadzor.”

On 22 April, in Voronezh, searches were conducted at the homes of eight local activists. For seven of them, the investigative activities were related to a criminal case against the civil society figure Grigory Severin. Law enforcement tried to find devices with access to the “Free People of Voronezh” channel, which had published posts critical of the Russian authorities.

Security forces tortured at least three activists and their family members. Aleksandr Zheltukhin was beaten with a stun gun and suffocated with a plastic bag. Doctors recorded eight broken ribs and five fractured vertebrae. Security forces tried to cut off Fyodor Orlov’s finger with scissors. An electric shocker was also used on Nadezhda Belova, her husband and son. After one of the victims lodged a complaint, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case into torture.

A protocol has been drawn up against the European University at St Petersburg for incitement of hatred or enmity (Article 20.3.1 of the Administrative Offences Code). The city’s joint press service of the courts reports this.

The reason was a report published on the university’s website: “How and by whom forensic examination is conducted: experts in the context of interdepartmental interaction.” Experts concluded that the text contained “signs aimed at degrading the dignity of a group of people on the grounds of belonging to the social group ‘Russian forensic experts.’”

All six reports (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) against the Prisoners’ Rights Defence Foundation were registered by the court on 26 June. The reports against the Civic Assistance Committee were received on 24 and 26 June (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7).

The reports for both organisations were filed under the article concerning the failure to submit, late submission, submission of an incomplete “foreign agent” report, or submitting it with false information (Part 2, Article 19.34 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Legal entities under this charge face a fine ranging from 300,000 to 500,000 roubles (approximately US$3,400 to US$5,700).

These cases will be considered by Judge Elena Kulikova. The hearing dates have not yet been set.

A resident of Perm, a major city in the Urals, was fined twice in one day under charges of “discrediting the army” (Article 20.3.3, Part 1 of the Administrative Offences Code) because of anti-war comments. This was reported by the outlet Idel.Realii.

The Industrial District Court of Perm handed the man two fines of 30,000 roubles each (approx. US$320). Both decisions were issued on 18 April.

One protocol was drawn up over comments made in the “ChP Perm | Perm Krai” public group below a 2023 post about the deaths of two Russians in the war, including a member of the Wagner Group. The Perm resident left several comments:

—“I disagree. Russia invaded another country and is killing Slavs. Firstly, he was a mercenary, he killed for money. Can you explain to me: if someone kills people for money in another country, can they really be considered a hero in their own country?”;

—“These are mercenaries from Russia who kill for money, our taxes. They are killers. And Ukrainian troops eliminate such Wagnerites”;

—“Eliminated as a mercenary who killed people for money”;

—“For killing people for money—eternal memory?”;

—“Who will mourn the Ukrainians who were killed by mercenaries for money?”;

—“How can mercenaries who killed for money be called heroes?.”

In his explanation to the police, the Perm resident stated that he considers his statements lawful, as the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech.

The second protocol arose from his comment on a post beginning with the words: “The Ministry of Defence spoke of the heroism of Russian Armed Forces soldiers in the special military operation zone.” The Perm resident wrote: “He kills people for money in a foreign country. And they call him a hero.” This time, the man was present at the hearing. He did not admit guilt and said that his statement referred only to one person, with no intent to discredit the armed forces. He added that he in fact has a positive attitude toward the Russian army and has relatives who serve as military personnel.

“[The defendant] believes that the authorities began to persecute him after he removed a poster calling for participation in the special military operation for a high reward,”—the court’s ruling summarised the man’s testimony.

Because of the poster incident, the Perm resident was already prosecuted in February 2025. According to a court decision obtained by OVD-Info, at that time he was fined another 30,000 roubles (approx. US$320) under the same “discrediting” article. The ruling states that the man tore down a banner advertising contract military service from a school fence. He was spotted and detained by a security guard, and police were called to the scene. The Perm resident explained then that he tore down the poster “so that young people would not participate in the special military operation, because he didn’t want them to die; he is against the special military operation.”

On 11 June, the Magadan City Court fined 46-year-old Elena A. 30,000 roubles (approx. US$330) under the article on ‘discrediting the army’ (Part 1, Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences), reports “Ostorozhno, novosti” (“Caution, news”).

The woman did not attend the hearing. The administrative case was triggered by a comment she left under a post in a local Telegram channel about the death of a 25-year-old mobilised resident of Kolyma in the war.

In the discussion, she wrote: “He was a good lad. My daughter went to nursery and school with him for 11 years. Why is God so unfair?”

Another commenter replied: “Just another occupier, what’s so good about him?” The woman responded: “The mobilised guy just wanted to help his mum, she raised him alone. The others are occupiers, yes.”

The Tverskoy District Court in Moscow fined a married couple from Perm Krai, Diana Kildiyarova and Rail Khusainov, 30,000 roubles (approximately US$325) and sentenced them to 13 days in detention over a picket with a poster reading “Greatness of the SBU.” This was reported by “Ostorozhno, Novosti” (“Careful, News”).

The couple were found guilty of “discrediting the Russian army” (part 1, Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Offences Code) and “disobeying the police” (part 1, Article 19.3). The court rulings on the “discrediting” charge state the pair held a picket on 30 April by a fence next to military equipment.

In court, Kildiyarova and Khusainov explained that they had received a call from fraudsters who forced them to take out a loan, then paid for their travel and accommodation in Moscow, forbade them from contacting the police, and made them go out with the poster. The court found that the couple “publicly expressed a negative attitude towards the special military operation being conducted by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,” and that their testimony was unsubstantiated.

The charge of “disobeying the police” was brought against Kildiyarova and Khusainov because, according to police reports, they refused to stop the picket and to get into the police vehicle, “waved their arms, dug their feet into the asphalt and clung to police uniforms.” The couple denied their guilt and said they calmly complied with police demands. However, the court ruled there were no grounds to consider the police reports inadmissible, and that the couple’s explanations should be viewed critically.

After serving their 13-day detention, the couple flew back to Perm Krai in the Urals, “Ostorozhno Novosti” reports.

The Lida concert in Arkhangelsk has been cancelled. This was reported by local outlet 29.ru.

Nikolai Romadov, who performs under the stage name Lida, creates music in the pop-rave and synth-punk genres. His concert was due to take place at the M33 venue on the evening of 21 June. The day before, it was revealed that the event had been cancelled. The concert was then rescheduled to the “Ruki Vverkh” bar, but it was subsequently cancelled there as well.

Earlier, the regional children’s rights commissioner, Elena Molchanova, described Lida’s music on social media as “blatant propaganda of vulgarity and depravity.” She was outraged: “Why should such vulgar art be performed in the City of St Michael the Archangel? Let’s not be indifferent, let’s take an active civic stance and prevent the corruption of our children, who, due to their age, still do not understand much.”

The Central District Court in Kemerovo fined local photographer and musician Ivan Sapozhnikov 10,000 roubles (approximately US$110) over a post about the war in Ukraine. This was reported by the news outlet “7×7,” as well as the security services-affiliated Telegram channel “Kuzbass Without Extremism‘.

The man was found guilty under the article on “discrediting the Russian army” (Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences). According to the security services, Sapozhnikov allegedly left a comment on VKontakte stating that Russia started the war against Ukraine in 2014.

In addition, the same court fined the photographer 1,000 roubles (approximately US$11) for posting a photo of Alexei Navalny. He was accused of displaying extremist organisation symbols (Article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences). The authors of “Kuzbass Without Extremism” wrote that the protocol was specifically drawn up because of the Navalny photo, since Navalny was “recognised as an extremist.”

“It is true that there is now a practice of prosecuting people for posting photos of Navalny for displaying extremist symbols,” commented OVD-Info lawyer Valeria Vetoshkina. “Of course, this is unlawful and wrong, because putting an individual on the list of those suspected of involvement in extremist or terrorist activities, or the fact that a person headed an organisation recognised as extremist, does not make images of that person prohibited.”

A protocol has been drawn up against St Petersburg artist Alexey Kiryanov for inciting hatred or enmity (Article 20.3.1 of the Administrative Code). This was reported by “Bumaga.”

The reason was two publications by Kiryanov posted on his VKontakte page in 2024. The first post was a photograph from the “For Fair Elections” rally in February 2012. In the photo, activists dressed as vampires stand with a banner reading “Ghouls vote for Putin” in front of the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood. Experts from Saint Petersburg State University considered this as inciting hatred or enmity towards the social group “voters who support V. V. Putin.”

The second post included a caricature titled “The Expulsion of Shoigu from Paradise.” Experts stated that it contains elements aimed at inciting hatred or enmity towards the social group “Christians.”

Previously, speaking with “Bumaga,” Kiryanov suggested that someone from the Z-artist community may have denounced him. He commented: “I am calm. And I do my work. I draw. My nerves are strong.” The administrative case against Kiryanov was initiated by the prosecutor’s office.

Chumakova herself has not been officially designated a “foreign agent,” but the Ministry of Justice listed her in the register as a member of ASTRA—this media outlet was added to the relevant register in October 2024.

Elena Shuvalova, an activist from Novosibirsk, was fined 30,000 rubles (approximately US$330) for anti-war posts, reports “7×7.”

The reason for bringing her to administrative responsibility under the article on “discrediting the army” (Part 1, Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences) were two posts on VKontakte: one included an image of white-blue-white and yellow-blue flags against a background of clouds with the captions “Leave Ukraine alone” and “For peace,” and the other also showed a white-blue-white flag against clouds with the caption “For peace.” Shuvalova published these more than three years ago.

The protocol against the activist was drawn up on 28 May. At the same time, she was fined 2,000 rubles (about US$22) under the article on displaying extremist symbols (Part 1, Article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences) because of VKontakte posts with images of the white-blue-white flag and slogans “Glory to Ukraine” and “Glory to the heroes.”

In Krasnodar, police have filed a charge of “LGBT propaganda” (part 1, article 21 of the Administrative Code) against a 42-year-old resident of Labinsk, a city in southern Russia, who has a previous conviction for theft. This was reported by the press service of the city’s police. The report was highlighted by the “Crime 6.21” project.

The man was wearing “women’s clothing” while on public transport. According to law enforcement, by doing so the Labinsk resident “engaged in propaganda of non-traditional sexual relationships” because his actions “differ from established norms of behaviour in ordinary society and distort the perception of the social equivalence of traditional and non-traditional sexual relationships.”

The case materials have been submitted to the court for consideration.

The day before, the man had been detained by criminal investigation officers. He is also accused of stealing a fishing rod and a mixer tap from a garage.

Roskomnadzor has blocked Wattpad, the popular platform for stories and fanfiction, in Russia. TASS reports, citing the agency.

The decision to block the site was made “due to the systematic disregard of requirements to remove prohibited information,” including posts officials claimed contained “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations.”

The agency added that at the time of the block, Wattpad had not removed 130 pages with prohibited content, contrary to the authorities’ demands. In addition, the platform owner has been fined three times, for a total of more than 5 million roubles (about US$55,000), which have yet to be paid.

Wattpad is a popular platform for writers and fanfiction authors.

Former municipal deputy from Yefremov, Tula region, Olga Podolskaya, has been fined 10,000 roubles (approx. US$110) under the article on participation in the activities of an undesirable organisation (Art. 20.33 of the Administrative Offences Code). This was reported by the joint press service of the Tula region courts.

The Yefremov Interdistrict Court of the Tula region found Podolskaya guilty due to her participation in videos published on the Telegram channel “Deputies of Peaceful Russia.” This is an association of municipal and regional deputies who oppose the war with Ukraine and are living in forced exile. In August 2024, the Prosecutor General’s Office added the organisation to the list of “undesirable” groups.

Previously, Olga Podolskaya was fined for publishing information without the “foreign agent” disclaimer. She was added to the Ministry of Justice’s register in September 2023. Podolskaya helped Alexei Moskalyov, who was convicted in a criminal case for “discrediting the Russian Armed Forces,” and his daughter.

The Rampa Theatre in Nakhodka (a major city in Primorsky Krai, Russian Far East) cancelled its anti-fascist musical “Cabaret” due to “reasons beyond its control.” As reported by journalist Anna Sharipova, the local authorities banned the performance. This was noted by “7×7.”

According to Sharipova, Rampa’s director Andrei Yurchenko had planned to hold one closed performance “for friends.” In the end, the actors were not able to perform, and Yurchenko announced that “they have been banned from staging the play on this stage.”

“It’s said that the deputy head [of Nakhodka, Natalya Agritskaya] attended the dress rehearsal. She saw a lot of people in Nazi uniforms, women in stockings, practically orgies. But that’s just hearsay. The idea is that she was scared someone from the audience would film it and then Nakhodka would make headlines across Russia, that the municipal Youth Centre is showing Nazis and debauchery,” Sharipova told “7×7.”

The journalist noted that Rampa is an amateur theatre without its own venue. The actors perform at the municipal Youth Centre, where they also receive their salaries.

A “7×7” source at the theatre confirmed that the musical was cancelled at the request of the Nakhodka administration. According to them, officials even banned the performance for friends, “hinting at consequences in a more damaging form.”

“We’d been working on the show for a year. Costume and set sketches had been created and approved, and the orchestra had learned all the parts for the musical. Then, two weeks before the premiere, officials from the administration came and banned ticket sales (even though sales had already started). <…> The officials just respond in vague terms, saying it’s ‘inappropriate,’ and that’s it,” the source said.

Maria Makhmutova, a resident of Irkutsk region in Siberia, has been issued a protocol for “discrediting the army” (Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code) after criticising Russia Day and participants in the war, according to the regional Interior Ministry department. reports.

Earlier, she wrote on VKontakte that officials had decided not to draw up a protocol or open a criminal case against her: “No drugs, no alcohol, no psych ward, no remand facility, no admin charges, no criminal charges. When I know my rights even without lawyers. Info for those who were quick to celebrate,” Makhmutova said. Her page is now closed.

The Interior Ministry said the protocol was actually drawn up against her on 13 June. The case will be heard by the Kirovsky District Court in Irkutsk.

The ministry also reported that the day before, the woman left a specialised medical institution. On 17 June, RT, citing a law enforcement source, reported that Makhmutova had been sent to a psychiatric-neurological hospital.

“At present, law enforcement agencies are continuing a comprehensive investigation. Her actions are being assessed both from the perspective of criminal and administrative law,” added the Interior Ministry. On 13 June, the Investigative Committee reported that she was also being checked under the criminal article on “discrediting the army” (Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code).

On 12 June, Makhmutova posted a video on her Instagram page, which has more than five thousand followers, criticising celebrations of Russia Day and condemning participants in the war in Ukraine:

“What kind of holiday is this, fuck? An amazing holiday—Russia Day. And what, are you proud of something or what? What are you proud of, fuck? That you live with almost nothing to your name? That you have to kill people so you can buy yourself cars and flats, fuck, and drink like it’s your last day, and wear those fucking medals. Your medals today are a mark for life, a brand for life, that you’re fucking murderers. <…> If all the ‘special operation’ guys die tomorrow, I’ll drink some wine.”

After this, activists from the pro-government “People’s Call” movement reported her to the Investigative Committee and the Prosecutor General’s Office. Makhmutova soon posted an apology video, saying she was not ready to lose her child, crying, and trying to cut her wrists.

On 13 June, security officials came to her home. She refused to open the door and threatened to harm herself. In the end, Emergency Ministry employees forced open the door and detained Makhmutova. According to the security officials, on the way to the police station she tried to run away several times. After her detention, when a female investigator asked whether she was ready to apologise, the woman replied: “No, I’ve got nothing to apologise for.”

In Kemerovo region, a court fined a resident of Kiselevsk 10,000 roubles (approx. US$115) under the offence of inciting hatred (Article 20.3.1 of the Administrative Offences Code) for negative comments about police officers on VKontakte. This was reported by the “Kuzbass Without Extremism” Telegram channel, which is linked to law enforcement authorities.

The channel published one of the comments that triggered the fine: “Our f***ing police know only how to lock people up for games! That’s it! They’re good for nothing else! A bastard country with bastard laws, courts, and police! And the bunker-dweller is the same.”

The same court fined the man an additional 30,000 roubles (approx. US$345) under the offence of calling for sanctions against Russia (Article 20.3.4 of the Administrative Offences Code). In this instance, the protocol was issued because of his comment under news about US President Joe Biden’s team considering Russia one of the main threats to the United States. “For f**k’s sake, just recognise it already!!!!!!! Impose sanctions!!!!!! Come on Biden, please!!!!!!” the man wrote.

The court issued both decisions on 17 June.

For “inciting hatred” against “Russian colonisers,” 65-year-old Magni­togorsk resident Zilya Ramazanova has been fined 10,000 roubles (US$110). The decision of the Leninsky district court, dated 29 April this year, was noted by the SOVA analytical centre.

The court claims that in February this year, the woman posted the following comment in the “Slavic People” community on VKontakte: “Russian colonisers, when seizing the lands of indigenous non-Russian peoples, also raped, killed, burned people alive. Fascists.” The court ruled that this was “a negative judgement against a group of people united by race, nationality, and the descriptor ‘Russian colonisers.’”

In court, the woman pleaded guilty and confirmed that she had posted the comment. She stated that she “intended to draw attention to historical facts that happened in the past.”

The court fined Ramazanova under the article for inciting hatred or enmity (Article 20.3.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences). She has filed an appeal against the court’s decision.

On 16 June, the Kanavinsky District Court in Nizhny Novgorod fined activist Gleb Kalinychev 35,000 roubles (approx. US$380) under the article on “discrediting” the Russian army (Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code). This was reported by the “Nizhny Novgorod Political Red Cross.”

The activist, who had previously been convicted in the FBK donation case, was issued the protocol on 7 May when they came to the police station to check in because of their suspended sentence. They were charged over an anti-war post published on 24 February 2022.

In August 2024, a court in Nizhny Novgorod gave Kalinychev a four-year suspended sentence for financing extremism (Part 1, Article 282.3 of the Criminal Code). According to law enforcement, they transferred 1,899 roubles (approx. US$21) to the Anti-Corruption Foundation. Kalinychev had been held in pretrial detention from September 2023 until the verdict was announced.

The Yeltsin Centre has cancelled a lecture by Nikolay Nakhshunov, a lecturer at the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences (Shaninka), due to a post in the “UralLive” channel, which is linked to the Urals team of propagandist Vladimir Solovyov. This was reported by It’s My City.

According to journalists, the lecture was intended to discuss the philosophy of Deleuze, psychoanalysis, and their connection to modern social theories.

Nakhshunov’s lecture, planned for 17 June at the Yeltsin Centre, was cancelled after a post appeared in the “UralLive” Telegram channel, part of a media network associated with Vladimir Solovyov. The post claimed that Nakhshunov collaborates with organisations supporting the queer community.

After this publication was released, calls to cancel the event began to circulate on social media. Several hours later, the Yeltsin Centre announced that the lecture was cancelled.

In April, the Yeltsin Centre removed director Vladimir Mirzoev’s play “I Killed the Tsar” from its schedule, and in February a meeting with poet German Lukomnikov was disrupted. According to “UralLive” and the “Russian Community,” they allegedly hold anti-Russian views. In May, it became known that a lecture by philosophy populariser Dmitry Khaustov would not take place.

The Kuibyshev District Court in St Petersburg has fined Elena Orlova, director of the “Podpisnye Izdaniya” bookshop, 20,000 roubles (approx. US$220) for the sale of a single book. This was reported by a Mediazona correspondent from the courtroom.

Orlova was charged under the article on cooperation with an “undesirable organisation” (Article 20.33 of the Russian Administrative Code). The reason for the fine was the sale of Igor Olinevich’s book “Going to Magadan.” Police and the court decided that the book was published with the support of the Belarusian Anarchist Black Cross, which has been designated “undesirable” in Russia.

At the end of May, “Podpisnye Izdaniya” bookshop was also fined 800,000 roubles (approx. US$8,750) under the article on “LGBT propaganda” (Part 1, Article 6.21 of the Russian Administrative Code).

The Leninsky District Court of Sevastopol fined a 19-year-old student of a local college 49,000 roubles (US$540) under the article on “discrediting the army” (Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences). The local Ministry of Internal Affairs reported this.

A magistrate judge also fined the young person 50,000 roubles (US$550) under the article on “LGBT propaganda” (Article 6.21 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

The charges were brought in connection with comments made in a Telegram chat, where the student asked for a petition to be created, addressed to the President of Ukraine, proposing the establishment of a reservation for residents of temporarily occupied territories until liberation, as well as a message from a humorous Telegram bot that determined he was 72 per cent homosexual.

The case against the student was handled by officers from the Sevastopol department of the Centre for Combating Extremism together with the regional FSB office.

The Zheleznodorozhny District Court in Ryazan sentenced local resident Andrey Vasilenko to 10 days of administrative detention. The reason for this was a pro-Ukrainian slogan. The court decision dated 6 June was noticed by the “7×7” news outlet.

According to the court, on 4 June, the man shouted the slogan “Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists” in the courtyard of a residential building. The only slogan of this organisation, according to the Justice Ministry, is the phrase “Glory to Ukraine—glory to the heroes.”

The court’s press service stated that Vasilenko is a citizen of Ukraine. He did not admit guilt in the case, saying he had shouted the slogan while drunk and “was not aware of his actions.”

The court found the man guilty of promoting prohibited symbols (part 1 of article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

A 21-year-old resident of Shebekino, Igor Sh., has been fined one thousand roubles (about US$11) by the court over memes about the “Belgorod People’s Republic.” This was reported by the “Ashes of Belgorod” Telegram channel.

The young man posted the images on Telegram back at the start of the war, on 8 April 2022. One image showed a blue-and-white flag with the coat of arms of Belgorod region superimposed. The coat of arms was placed within part of the large coat of arms of Ukraine.

The second image was of the “BNR” flag, which was a Ukrainian flag with a black stripe at the bottom. In the middle was the coat of arms of Belgorod region, with the caption “прапор” (Ukrainian for “flag”).

A protocol was drawn up against Igor Sh. under the article on public demonstration of banned symbols (Article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences). In court, the Shebekino resident admitted guilt and said he posted the “BNR” memes because after the war started, he “became interested in the 'Belgorod People’s Republic' movement.”

He also explained that he did not delete the images after the “BNR movement” was labelled a terrorist organisation, because he forgot he had ever posted them.

At the end of 2024, the Supreme Court of Russia declared the “Forum of Free States of post-Russia” and the non-existent “BNR movement” as a “structural subdivision” of the “Forum” to be terrorist organisations.

The “BNR” meme (by analogy with “DNR” and “LNR”) originated after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.

The Yandex.Books service has removed the book “Outbreak. The Unknown History of HIV in the USSR” by Irina Roldugina and Katerina Suverina from its website. The publication Parni+ drew attention to this.

The book tells the story of the spread of HIV in the Soviet Union and the public’s reaction to it. It also features testimonies from eyewitnesses and publications from that time.

The book was published by Individuum, whose staff have been accused of “extremist” activity due to “promoting the activities of the LGBT movement” in books released by the publisher.

A case has been opened against Olesya Mavletkina, a resident of Kursk region (western Russia), under the charge of calling for violations of Russia’s territorial integrity (Part 2, Article 20.3.2 of the Administrative Code). The case was submitted to the Khomutovsky District Court on 9 June, as also reported by the united press service of the courts of the Kursk region.

The reason for prosecution was a post containing an image and the caption “New map of Ukraine,” published by Mavletkina on 21 June 2024. “This image illustrates the alienation of part of the territory of the Russian Federation in favour of Ukraine and is extremist in nature,” the press service clarified. OVD-Info was unable to locate the image itself.

The online cinema service “Ivi” has removed the film “The Collapse of the World,” in which the plot involves Vladimir Putin dying. This was reported by film critic Timur Aliyev and noted by SOTA.

“It’s a shame, of course. It was the only way to legally access the original audio track, rather than watching the dubbed version,” Aliyev commented.

“Ivi” was the only major Russian streaming platform that had not censored the scene featuring a news broadcast about a new fever, SOTA observes. The episode shows footage from Russia, and behind the news anchor the hashtag #PutinDead and the headline “What has happened to Putin?” are visible.

A protocol for “discrediting” the Russian army (part 1 of article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Offences Code) has been drawn up against Eduard Goida, a Moscow resident. The channel “Ostorozhno, novosti” (“Caution, news”) reported this.

Exactly what the 58-year-old engineer is accused of remains unknown. A hearing for his case has been scheduled for late June at the Tushinsky District Court in Moscow.

Speaking to a journalist, the man said that the protocol was prompted by a “conversation on the street.” However, he did not specify what the conversation was about and declined to provide details of the case until the court hearing.

In Kemerovo region, a resident of Anzhero-Sudzhensk, a city in Siberia, has been fined 10,000 roubles (approx. US$110) over a comment about Russian soldiers. This was reported by the Telegram channel “Kuzbass Without Extremism,” which is linked to law enforcement.

The man was found guilty of inciting hatred (Article 20.3.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

“In Sergey’s comments, law enforcement identified statements which negatively assessed a group of people united by their belonging to the servicemembers of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,” the channel wrote.

They did not quote the statement that led to the charges, but published a screenshot of Sergey’s comment: “Well, it’s only right—Shoigu’s looters are dropping like flies.”

On 7 June, “Kuzbass Without Extremism” reported that the same man had also been fined 15,000 roubles (approx. US$165) under the article on “discrediting the army” (Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

“[Sergey], in one of the social networks, made negative remarks in comments on various posts regarding the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, calling participants in the special military operation ‘fascists,’ ‘fertiliser,’ and ‘cannon fodder,’” the channel wrote.

The decision was made back in April, but the court ruling was only published on 10 June. The media outlet “Idel.Realii” reported this.

According to the court ruling, a link to the “Heftsiba” educational programme on the Sokhnut agency’s website, which works on repatriation to Israel, was posted on the website of School No. 12, which people in Kazan call the “Jewish school.” The link led to the Russian-language version of the site.

Prosecutors drew up the protocol against Kozlovskaya because the English-language version of the site had a “Help Jews in Ukraine” section about assistance for Jews in Ukraine, which mentioned the war and ways to help people in Ukraine.

The prosecution considered the following passages to constitute army discreditation:

“Russia attacked several Ukrainian cities from the air and Russian ground troops entered Ukraine from several directions. The war is ongoing, with hundreds of civilians killed and millions fleeing for their lives. From the start of the war, the Jewish Agency has been on the front line, saving Jews from Ukraine, with staff on the ground, many of whom are risking their lives to rescue the Jewish national community.”

“While the war continues, the Jews of Ukraine are desperately in need of our help. The Jewish Agency is working on the ground to help Ukrainian Jews who wish to quickly and safely make aliyah to Israel, as well as supporting and protecting members of the local Ukrainian Jewish community who have chosen to stay. But we need your support. Donate today; every dollar helps Ukrainian Jews in this unimaginable crisis.”

Discreditation was also found in a video featuring Ukrainian refugees (spelling as in the court’s ruling): “We lived in Kyiv before the war and worked… And now for the second time we are fleeing from the Russian war… We travelled for more than 2 weeks trying to find a place because all cities were taking in people from central and eastern Ukraine. We slept in the bathroom or in the corridor… For the first time we were able to sleep well, you know, not wandering anywhere, not hearing any sirens.”

Kozlovskaya did not admit guilt. She said she had not posted these materials, and pointed out that the content in question was in other sections and in the English-language version of the website. Judge Artur Kiselev judged this argument “untenable.”

The same link also became the basis for a second protocol against the school’s director, accusing her of inciting hatred (Article 20.3.1 of the Administrative Offences Code), and she was fined 17,000 rubles (about US$190). The ruling quotes an expert’s opinion that the same passages show “certain indirect linguistic signs of inciting enmity” towards Russians.

Kozlovskaya has appealed both rulings. The appeal is scheduled to be heard on 25 June.

The link that triggered the prosecution was posted in the “International Cooperation” section. That section is now empty on the school website.

The Butyrsky District Court in Moscow fined student Arina Kalita 30,000 roubles (approximately US$330) under the article on “discrediting the army” (Part 1, Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Offences Code). This was reported by the press service of Moscow’s courts of general jurisdiction, and the ruling is available on the court’s website.

Kalita is a third-year student at the MPGU college, specialising as a primary school teacher. In December 2024, she had an argument with a fellow student in their group chat on VKontakte called “Friendly Armenians 32u.” Kalita wrote a message about “a young man who is currently in the area of the special military operation.” Her classmate replied that “the FSB is very good at dealing with such statements about the military.” The classmate later published screenshots of their conversation.

Kalita stated that she was joking and had “apologised” to the young man she mentioned in the messages.

An “man in women’s clothing” from Yakutsk (a city in Russia’s Far East) has been fined 50,000 rubles (approximately US$560) under the “LGBT propaganda” law (part 1 of article 6.21 of the Code of Administrative Offences). This was reported by the local Interior Ministry.

According to law enforcement, the “offender, while intoxicated, applied makeup in a demonstrative manner, used foul language, harassed passersby and behaved provocatively in public places.” As a result, they also drew up reports under the articles on minor hooliganism (part 1 of article 20.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences) and being drunk in public (article 20.21).

A protocol has been drawn up against the Moscow bookshop Falanster for alleged “LGBT propaganda” (Part 1, Article 6.21 of the Code of Administrative Offences). This was reported by Mediazona, which found the case record on the website of the Tverskoy District Court of Moscow.

The reason for the protocol is unknown. Under this article, legal entities face a fine of between 800,000 and one million roubles (approximately US$8,900 to US$11,100) or administrative suspension of activities for up to 90 days.

In addition, Mediazona discovered that the court has registered a new protocol under the article on participation in the activities of an “undesirable organisation” (Article 20.33 of the Code of Administrative Offences) against Boris Kupriyanov, a co-founder of Falanster.

Both cases will be heard in the morning on 18 July.

At the end of May, the court already imposed fines on both the bookshop and Kupriyanov under protocols on “undesirable organisations.” Falanster was fined 80,000 roubles (about US$900), and its co-founder was fined 40,000 roubles (about US$450).

The case concerned a book by anarchist and political prisoner from Belarus, Ihar Alinevich, about his time in the KGB pre-trial detention centre in Minsk. Security officials decided it was published with support from the “Anarchist Black Cross Federation,” which has been declared an “undesirable organisation” in Russia. Kupriyanov did not admit guilt—he explained that this is a second-hand book and that two copies had been brought into the shop. Falanster, he stressed, was not involved in the activities of said anarchist organisation and did not communicate with its representatives.

Additionally, in February, Falanster cancelled a presentation of a book about anti-fascism after denunciations from pro-government activists, and in March, prosecutors visited the shop for an inspection and seized several books, including works by Michel Foucault, Hannah Arendt, Walter Benjamin, and Susan Sontag.

The date of the hearings has been corrected.

The Sverdlovsk Regional Court has overturned a fine of 40,000 rubles (about US$440) that was imposed in May on architect Polina Ivanova under the article on “discrediting the army” (part 1, article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Offences Code). This was reported by Mediazona.

The media outlet 66.ru writes that the formal reason for overturning the fine is as follows: the case should have been considered not by the Leninsky District Court of Yekaterinburg, but by the Verkh-Isetsky District Court. Now the case will be re-examined in the Verkh-Isetsky court.

Ivanova was detained for the protocol on 30 April. The reason was her anti-war post on Facebook, published in February 2022.

Due to the detention, the architect had to cancel a lecture about the history of Yekaterinburg, a major city in the Urals, that was planned for the same day.

Two weeks earlier, the Piotrovsky bookshop cancelled the launch of Ivanova’s book, “Guidebook to Sverdlovsk and Yekaterinburg.” This happened following a post by the pro-government channel UralLive, which was shared by the right-wing group Russian Community. The propagandists drew attention to the event announcement and began criticising Ivanova for her anti-war stance and for cooperating with the brother of Leonid Volkov.

The Tagansky District Court in Moscow has fined Apple six million roubles (approximately US$67,000) under two charges related to “LGBT propaganda” (part 3, article 6.21 of the Code of Administrative Offences). This was reported by “Ostorozhno, novosti.”

The reasons for the charges remain unknown, as the company requested that the hearings be held behind closed doors, according to RIA Novosti. The company’s lawyer stated that “confidential data relating to the operation of services, ‘very sensitive’ internal communications within Apple, and official documents” would be mentioned during the session.

In May, Apple was also given three more fines totalling 7.5 million roubles (approximately US$84,000) on similar charges.

The Izmailovsky District Court in Moscow has sentenced a man to three days' detention over an “A.C.A.B” tattoo on his neck. The court’s ruling was highlighted by the outlet 'Ostorozhno, novosti'.

On 9 June, the court found Kuvonchbek Ruziboev guilty of displaying banned symbols (Part 1, Art. 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

The ruling states that on the morning of 6 June, officers from Centre “E” stopped Ruziboev for a document check.

“[Ruziboev] engaged in the public display of extremist symbols on the right side of his neck with an 'A.C.A.B.' inscription (from English: All Cops Are Bastards), which translates as ‘All police are bastards’ or ‘All police are scum,’ included in the official list of prohibited symbols,” states the court document.

However, neither the phrase nor the abbreviation are included in the federal list of extremist materials.

In court, the man admitted guilt and said he did not know the meaning of his tattoo—it was chosen by the tattoo artist. He also promised to have it removed.

“After officers from the Centre for Combating Extremism explained the meaning of the tattoo, he decided to have it removed; however, he has not yet done so, nor has he covered the neck area, and continues to display the tattoo in public,” the court resolution says.

Last spring, left-wing activist Alexei Shichkov was detained for ten days over a photo showing the numbers 1312, which stand for ACAB, drawn on a wall. At the time, the court ruled that the numbers 1312 incited hatred (Art. 20.3.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

The protocol against the activist was drawn up at the end of May by a staff member of Centre “E.” They found a comment in the Telegram chat “DTP 18+ Chat,” dated 25 August 2024, which, according to law enforcement, belongs to Chepanov. The comment was in response to another user’s statement that: “the special military operation is a special military operation with a limited contingent” and, “if it were a war, you’d also be in the ranks and wouldn’t be earning 200,000 as a contractor.”

The text by the user with the nickname Alex, attributed to Chepanov, said: “So we attacked a neighbouring country with weapons, kill its citizens, occupy its territory, and this isn’t a war? Are you in your right mind at all?”

According to the findings of a linguistic expert report compiled on this comment (available to OVD-Info), the actions of the Russian Armed Forces are “characterised as violent, aggressive, hostile, involving the killing of civilians.”

The hearing on Chepanov’s case was scheduled for 23 June in the Central District Court of Khabarovsk, a major city in the Russian Far East.

8 July The Central Court of Khabarovsk fined Alexander Chepanov 30,000 roubles (approximately US$320). This was reported by his OVD-Info legal representative, Vladimir Zhilkin.

He noted that the authorities did not find any witnesses who could confirm that the account with the nickname Alex belonged to Chepanov, nor did they inspect his phone.

“The FSB just knows everything. They didn’t make any request to Telegram. We did, but the court didn’t wait for a response from Telegram with data on whether the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the FSB had made any requests regarding Alexander,” said Vladimir Zhilkin.

In Moscow, Georgiy P. has been arrested for 10 days over a video in which he says: “I fucking respect the police, but we fuck the cops in the mouth.” The channel “Ostorozhno, Moskva” (“Careful, Moscow”) drew attention to this.

According to the channel, the video featuring the Moscow resident was filmed back in early March and spread on Telegram. Law enforcement officers drew up a report against the man for incitement of hatred or enmity (Art. 20.3.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

In court, Georgiy P. explained his words by saying he was “very drunk.” In early June, he was sent to a special detention centre.

Due to an erotic photo of a woman in the uniform of the German Nazi armed forces, Andrey O. from Kemerovo was fined one thousand roubles (approx. US$11). This was reported by the law enforcement-linked channel “Kuzbass Without Extremism.”

According to the channel, the man uploaded the photo—depicting a woman against a backdrop of a swastika—to his VKontakte page back in 2018. Nearly seven years later, it was discovered by law enforcement officers.

The Kemerovo resident had an administrative protocol drawn up against him under the article on the display of Nazi symbols (Article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences), and the court fined him under that article.

The screening of Nikolai Solodnikov’s film “You Cried Bitterly in Your Sleep,” starring Ivan Urgant, was cancelled at the “Literature and Cinema” festival in Gatchina, a town near St Petersburg. The “Film Distributor’s Bulletin” drew attention to this report.

Prior to this, the public movement “The Call of the People” sent an appeal to the Ministry of Culture demanding the screening be cancelled. The activists noted that Solodnikov and Urgant hold “anti-patriotic and anti-Russian” views. Both cultural figures declined to support the war in Ukraine and have criticised the Russian authorities. “The Call of the People” also pointed to their “connections with individuals declared foreign agents”: Solodnikov’s wife, journalist Ekaterina Gordeeva, is included in this list.

Earlier, the film was not issued a distribution certificate.

A raid took place at the “Three Monkeys” club in Moscow. This was reported by the Telegram channel “Ostorozhno, Novosti” (“Caution, News”).

The police and OMON riot police entered the venue. The raid, according to “Ostorozhno, Novosti,” may be connected to “the fight against LGBT propaganda or the distribution of substances.”

The Telegram channel quotes eyewitnesses: “Everything happened spontaneously. Everyone was forced face down on the floor, searched for prohibited substances, and some people were injured by cuts from broken glass. An ambulance crew and several police vehicles arrived on the scene.”