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Moscow resident Nelli Gaprindashvili was issued three administrative citations after holding a solo protest in Alexander Garden with a sign reading “Putin is a murderer” on the morning of 21 January.
On 22 January, the Moscow courts press service announced that Gaprindashvili had been fined 60,000 roubles (about US$670) for violating the procedure for holding a public event (part 5, article 20.2 of the Administrative Offences Code) and for discrediting the army (part 1, article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Offences Code). On the third charge—disobeying the police (part 1, article 19.3 of the Administrative Offences Code)—she was sentenced to 15 days of administrative arrest.
The content of the sign became known from the published decisions in the cases of disobeying the police and discrediting the army. Judge Anna Malakhova ruled that by protesting with the “Putin is a murderer” sign, the Moscow resident was “expressing a negative attitude towards the special military operation being carried out by the Russian Armed Forces.” The second decision stated that during her detention, Gaprindashvili refused to go with the police, resisted physically, and pushed them away.
In court, the Moscow resident admitted guilt in the discrediting the army case and said she is against the war. In the case of disobeying the police, she pleaded not guilty and said that she did not refuse to comply with the officers’ demands.
In April 2022, Gaprindashvili was detained in Alexander Garden at the Alley of Hero Cities—next to the Kyiv stele. The reason for her detention that time was two badges with some inscription attached to her outerwear. Then, she was convicted only of violating the procedure for holding a public event and fined. On that occasion she did not admit guilt in court, stating she was simply out for a walk.
“Ostorozhno, Novosti” reports that Gaprindashvili, 54, works at a dental clinic.