A criminal case has been opened against a Yaroslavl National Bolshevik under the ‘Dadinskaya’ article.

A criminal case has been opened against Mikhail Bitov for repeated violation of the procedure for holding a public event (Article 212.1 of the Criminal Code). This was reported by the Telegram channel “National Human Rights,” which covers the persecution of National Bolsheviks.

At around seven o’clock in the morning on 1 April, law enforcement officers came to Bitov’s home. They carried out a search and seized party paraphernalia, clothing, stationery, and electronic devices.

Together with Bitov, another activist, Alina Antonova, was detained. She was held at the police station for several hours.

Today, the court will decide which pre-trial restriction will be applied to the National Bolshevik.

This year, Bitov has twice been held administratively liable under the article on rallies (Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences). In January, he was fined 20,000 roubles (about US$210) for a picket against blockings, and in February he was arrested for five days for putting up leaflets in support of National Bolsheviks from Kuban, detained at the “Limonov Readings.” The judges regarded the first action not as a solo picket but as a group picket, and classified the leafletting as a march. Both court decisions have already entered into force.

• Article 212.1 was introduced into the Criminal Code in 2014. It became known as the “Dadinskaya” article after the first person convicted under it, Moscow activist Ildar Dadin. In 2017, in connection with his case, the Constitutional Court recommended that proceedings under this article be opened only if a person’s actions posed a threat to society. Despite this, law enforcement continued to apply Article 212.1 to activists whose actions posed no threat whatsoever.