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.”
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On 17 May 2024, Alexander Zumorin was detained outside the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow while holding a sign reading: “No to war.” / Photo provided by the detainee’s wife