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“[I] was just sitting on a bench, staff approached and thought I was filming. Apparently, something didn’t sit well with them. They asked for documents—I showed them, but didn’t hand them over. In the end they took me away after a search, and I still haven’t gotten my passport back,” reports SOTAvision, quoting Simagin’s account of the arrest.

The Meshchansky District Court sentenced Ekaterina Wagner to 15 days of administrative arrest for disobeying police orders (Part 1 of Article 19.3 of the Administrative Offences Code), reports “Slovo Zashchite.” She has also been issued a protocol for violating the rules of holding a public event (Part 5 of Article 20.2), which has not yet been reviewed.

“Ekaterina does not consider herself to be part of any mass gathering; she believes she did not break the law. She was not disturbing anyone, nor did she take part in any unauthorised action. She was simply out for a walk with her nephews,” said lawyer Nataliya Tikhonova.

The day before, Ekaterina’s nephew said that the security forces beat him and forced him to testify against his aunt.

As reported by “Mediazona,” the same court issued 15 days of arrest each to Yaroslav Polyakov, Mikael Markaryan, and a third detainee who asked to remain anonymous, under the same disobedience article.

The Zamoskvoretsky District Court arrested two more people for petty hooliganism (Article 20.1). Aleksandr Shelestov received 15 days, and the second detainee—a woman—received 10 days.

The woman said she was detained while standing by a bench at Bolotnaya Square. A police officer demanded her passport. After she refused, the woman was taken to a police van.

Shelestov said he was sitting by the fountain when a police officer approached him and said he could not stay there. After Shelestov moved to a lamppost as instructed, another officer told him again to move, and he complied. After that, security personnel started calling him a protest coordinator and took his phone. Although they found nothing of interest on the device, Shelestov was still detained.

OVD-Info had not previously been aware of the detention of Shelestov, Polyakov and Markaryan—the total number of people detained in Moscow has now increased to 17.

The Zamoskvoretsky Court also returned to the police the protocol on petty hooliganism drawn up against Potemki Simagin. They will spend another day at “Alekseevskiy” police station (Simagin uses “they/them” pronouns), OVD-Info lawyer Aleksey Pinchuk said. The lawyer asked the court to summon the prosecutor, OMON officers, and police officers who made the arrest, as well as lawyer Oskar Cherdzhiev, who was not allowed to see Simagin yesterday. He also pointed out mistakes and discrepancies in the case file.

The Zamoskvoretsky District Court in Moscow sentenced Vladislav Azarochkin to 15 days in detention. He was detained on 29 March at Bolotnaya Square and later reported being beaten by law enforcement, according to SOTAvision.

He was found guilty of petty hooliganism (part 1, article 20.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

According to Azarochkin, he was detained after witnessing someone else being detained and offering to act as a witness for the police:

“I’m walking by the centre, take out a cigarette, start smoking, see lots of police officers, see someone being led off, their belongings thrown on the pavement. I offered to act as a witness if it was a search. Then five officers surrounded me. ‘What are you smoking? ’ they asked. I apologised, put out the cigarette. They said I was littering, that it was article 19.3, twisted my arms, no one identified themselves even though I asked. They took me to a police van, there they took a person’s phone and searched through it. Then a police officer grabbed me by the throat and began to choke me. He mocked me with words. Then he said he would ‘play the leather flute’ with me, holding me by the zip, clearly threatening rape.”

After that, Azarochkin was beaten. In court, he said it was still painful for him to stand and he was covered in bruises. According to the detainee, one of the officers told him: “I hate people like you.”

Soon after, Azarochkin’s condition worsened and an ambulance was called for him. He was then taken to hospital, where his injuries were documented. However, the medical records were not attached to the case file.

The detainee spent the night at the Yakimanka police station. Police did not allow volunteers to give him water or hygiene items, and the ventilation in his cell was turned off.

As SOTAvision reports, originally the police were going to charge Azarochkin with violating the smoking ban. But, claims the detainee, that document “was scrunched up and thrown away after a call from above.”

In court, lawyer Oskar Cherdzhiev requested that footage from police body cameras be seized and that the officers be summoned for questioning. Judge Yulia Varankina denied his requests.

In court, Azarochkin also told his defence lawyer that the police beat him both at the station and again this morning. He felt unwell due to the stuffy conditions in the cell, fell down, and then asked for an ambulance to be called. According to Azarochkin, after that, the police kicked him. He noted that corridor cameras at the station might have recorded this.

16:47 After the court session, Azarochkin called his girlfriend and said he had been beaten in the police van. SOTAvision reports this.

“Bumaga” reports a second detention in St Petersburg.

Police officers detained a man on the embankment near Lenin Square.

Earlier, law enforcement officers had threatened to detain those gathered at Lenin Square to take part in a protest against blockings, if they did not leave.

Activist Nikita Nesmeyanov was detained in the centre of Voronezh, a city in south-western Russia, during a solo picket against internet blocks, reports the Civil Defence Node Telegram channel.

He held a picket with a libertarian flag and a poster reading: “Stop slowing us down. Stop blocking us. For a free internet!!! Against bans. Against censorship!!!”

21:05 Nesmeyanov has been released from police station No. 6, he himself told OVD-Info. Police took a statement from the activist, but did not draw up an offence report.

20:46 Artur Wagner has been released from the Meshchansky police station, reports SOTAvision. He said that the police officers in the station hit him on the back of the head.

He was also pressured to give evidence against his aunt Yekaterina Wagner, with whom he had been detained on Bolotnaya Square—the officers forced him to say that she made him attend the rally. Ultimately, he gave this statement.

RusNews writes that in the station, Wagner was threatened with a beating that the police said they would record on video. According to the young man, his bank card was stolen in the police station.

Wagner has a category two disability.

The OVD-Info lawyer Natalia Tikhonova has still not been allowed to see the detainees at this station.

23:16 A second detainee is being held overnight at the Meshchansky police station, OVD-Info lawyer Natalia Tikhonova reported. She has now been allowed access to the remaining detainees in the station.

It is not known what exactly the man is being charged with.

Four people were released without any charges being filed. The parents of the two underage detainees arrived at the station.

Activists who tried to pass on essential items to Yekaterina Wagner and the second detainee told SOTAvision that police staff were rude. They refused to pass hygiene items, including toothbrushes, to the detainees.

Security forces are pushing back people gathered on Bolotnaya Square and demanding that they disperse. This was reported by the outlet Ostorozhno, novosti (“Caution, News”).

Police told the protesters that “an event is taking place in the Kremlin” and “if they order us to detain you, we will detain you.” In addition, a woman was detained after she shouted: “Dear OMON and police, we need your protection.” Security officers are speaking with her by the police van.

In St Petersburg, a man who was with a group of young people was detained on Lenin Square. This was reported by “Bumaga.”

Plainclothes officers escorted him to a police van. Another member of the group had unfurled a Russian flag beforehand.

Earlier, a small group of people had gathered on the square, which is located by Finland Station. Their documents had already been checked. “Bumaga” notes that reinforcements arrived for the security forces.

17:02 The man was released. He said the security forces threatened him with an administrative offence report and being sent to the military enlistment office, writes “Bumaga.”

He also told the others gathered that the security forces threatened to start detaining people if they did not disperse. After this, people who had come to the protest against blockings moved away from Lenin Square.

Police officers approached those who remained on the square.

On Bolotnaya Square in Moscow, OMON riot police are on duty and the police are carrying out random ID checks. This was reported by ‘Ostorozhno, novosti’ (‘Caution, News’).

According to the outlet, after checking documents, the police detained a young man who was carrying a Russian flag and a placard. Further details are unknown.

In Tomsk, a major city in Siberia, on the evening of 28 March, the organiser of a rally for a free internet was detained. Local activist Anton Isakov is being charged with “petty hooliganism,” reports RusNews.

“I was detained on suspicion of petty hooliganism. Currently at the Nakhimova police station,” Isakov reported.

The day before, the activist was summoned to the police, where he was given a warning and a notice to appear at the military enlistment office.

The authorities did not approve the rally in Tomsk itself, stating that all 15 possible venues in the city were already booked.

30 March The Kirov District Court of Tomsk sentenced Isakov to 14 days of arrest. This was reported on her Telegram channel by politician Kseniya Fadeyeva.

In Yakutsk, a city in the Russian Far East, the organiser of a rally for a free internet, Aleksei Popov, has been detained. He was taken to the police station. Popov himself reported this.

The man had submitted an application to hold a demonstration against internet blockages and throttling, but the authorities refused authorisation due to “the attention of disruptive individuals.”

On 30 March, Popov was released from the police station 48 hours after his detention, according to the Yakutia branch of the “Candidates’ Headquarters” reported.

He has been written up for disobeying the police (Article 19.3 of the Administrative Offences Code). As Popov’s relatives told the 7×7 publication, the police claimed that he refused to enter the police station and was swearing.

The Butyrsky District Court in Moscow has sentenced another applicant for the protest against internet blocks, Yevgeny Ladygin, to 15 days of administrative arrest. Information about this appeared on the city courts’ press service Telegram channel.

The young man was found guilty under the article for disobeying a lawful order from a police officer (Article 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences) due to his participation “in an unauthorised event against internet blocks on Bolotnaya Square.”

He has become the fifth detained applicant for the event that representatives of the Scarlet Swan movement wanted to hold on Bolotnaya Square on 29 March.

Another university student in Moscow has been sentenced to 15 days’ arrest for “participating in an unsanctioned event against internet censorship on Bolotnaya Square.” This was reported by the press service of the city’s courts of general jurisdiction.

Alexandra Meshcheryakova was found guilty of disobeying police orders (Part 1, Article 19.3 of the Administrative Offences Code).

Moscow students Maksim Kheifets and Nikita Ulanov, who were sentenced to 15 days' arrest under the charge of disobeying the police, have turned out to be participants in the “Alyi Lebed” (Scarlet Swan) movement. This was reported by Verstka, citing other members of the movement.

Kheifets was listed as one of the organisers in the notification to hold a rally on Sakharov Avenue. He is 18 years old. Ulanov is a volunteer with “Alyi Lebed.”

The court decisions in the cases against Ulanov and Kheifets state that both were arrested for “refusing to show documents” to police officers. “Acted aggressively, waved his hands,” the document says about Kheifets. Participation in the “unsanctioned event against internet blockades on Bolotnaya Square” is not mentioned in the court decisions, although this was initially reported by the court press service.

Two other “Alyi Lebed” participants—Stepan Razin, who submitted the notification for the rally on Bolotnaya Square, and the former organiser of the movement Timofei—managed to leave Russia. The latter had noticed surveillance: the same car had been driving past his home for several days.

In mid-March, more than 1,500 TikTok videos appeared calling on people to protest against internet blockades. The action, scheduled for 29 March, was promoted by the “Alyi Lebed” movement. Nothing was previously known about it.

In Moscow, students Maksim Kheifets and Nikita Ulanov have been sentenced to 15 days' detention for taking part in an 'unauthorised event against internet censorship on Bolotnaya Square'. This was reported by the press service of the city courts of general jurisdiction.

It was not specified which demonstration this referred to. Both young people were charged under the article on disobeying the police (Part 1, Article 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

In mid-March, more than 1,500 TikTok videos appeared calling for protests against internet censorship. The action, scheduled for 29 March, is being promoted by the “Scarlet Swan” movement—reportedly organised by young people aged 14 to 20 (there are suspicions they may be linked to pro-government groups). Coordinators submitted an application for a rally in Moscow, and in parallel the politician Dmitry Kisiev announced actions across Russia. His team submitted notifications in 28 cities across 17 regions in total.

Authorities in Russian cities are refusing to allow these rallies, canceling already approved actions, and also putting pressure on their organisers and participants.

• Police visited Sofia Chepik (19), administrator of the Moscow “Scarlet Swan” chat: they took her from her home, held a “preventive conversation,” and released her with a “warning about the inadmissibility of breaking the law.”
• Main organiser Stepan Razin went to the prosecutor’s office himself to pre-empt action by the security forces (however, a police unit also turned up at his home during this time).
• In Rostov-on-Don, a major city in southern Russia, rally applicant Yevgeny Makovoz was arrested for 10 days. Before this, there was a search at his home during which he was beaten. According to his relatives, the activist suffered a concussion.

Why are protests against internet censorship not allowed in Russian cities? The authorities’ explanations

• Moscow and Moscow region. Mass events are banned due to COVID restrictions.
• Barnaul and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The rally’s aim “violates the principle of legality” because Roskomnadzor is blocking the internet “within the powers granted by law.”
• Kazan. The wording of the aim “allows for arbitrary and ambiguous interpretation.”
• Volgograd. There is a threat of drone attacks.
• Voronezh. There is a threat of terrorist attacks.
• Tomsk. All 15 proposed venues for the action are already booked.
• Vladivostok. The action can only be held at one venue, but it needs repairs.

In some cities, rallies can still be agreed, but with caveats:

In Vladimir, the rally was approved—but only for one hour in the morning. Initially, organisers wanted to protest at ten venues, but the authorities decided to clean them and hold a “patriotic event” there. In Yakutsk, a major city in Siberia, a venue on the outskirts was approved. Authorities also demanded that the rally be moved to Monday and last only one hour. The organiser called this “mockery” and declined.

Earlier today, another young woman was detained at the Lesya Ukrainka monument. An eyewitness told RusNews that during the arrest, she was knocked into a snowdrift.

The young woman told OVD-Info that she has already been released from the Dorogomilovo police station. She said she had left an A4 sheet with the words “No to war” and a flower at the monument. After her detention, she was issued with an administrative offence report for “discrediting the army” (Part 1, Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code). The case will be reviewed by a court tomorrow.

The police at the station questioned her about how much she was paid and forced her to put her phone into airplane mode.

In Moscow, a young man was detained by the monument to Lesya Ukrainka after refusing to show his documents to law enforcement officers for inspection. This was reported by RusNews.

At the same time, SOTAvision writes that police officers checked the man’s documents for several minutes after he laid flowers at the monument, and only then escorted him to a police van.

Several police officers are patrolling the area around the monument and checking passers-by’s identification. The flowers that had been laid at the monument have been removed.

21:25 The young man was released from the Dorogomilovo police station, according to OVD-Info defence lawyer Natalia Tikhonova, who went to assist him.

No protocol was drawn up against him. Police officers also did not confiscate the flowers he had brought to the monument.

In Moscow, a young woman was detained after bringing flowers to the monument to Lesya Ukrainka, reports SOTAvision.

According to witnesses, after she laid the flowers, she was escorted to a police car and taken away.

From early in the morning, Moscow residents have been bringing flowers, notes and yellow-and-blue ribbons to the monument to Lesya Ukrainka. The publication RusNews reported that one of the police officers has been examining the notes left at the monument.

17:53 A police van has arrived at the monument, stopping about 15–20 metres from the plinth, reports SOTAvision.

Police have stopped two more people who came to the monument. It is unclear whether they have been detained.

25 February The Tverskoy District Court in Moscow considered the charges against Taissiya Kurbanaliyeva for “discrediting” the army and disobeying police orders, the press office of the Moscow courts reported.

For the article on “discrediting” the army, she was fined 40,000 rubles (approximately US$430). The reason was the placard reading: “No to war, no to occupation.” For disobeying police orders, she was sentenced to 10 days’ arrest. It is not known what, specifically, the authorities consider constituted “disobedience.”

The Kirovsky District Court in Yaroslavl has sentenced lawyer Andrei Akimov to five days’ administrative arrest. He was detained on 16 February near the monument to victims of political repression at the Leontyevsky cemetery. This was reported by the “Rassvet” party; Akimov is the secretary of its Yaroslavl branch.

The party noted that the lawyer simply left flowers at the monument; he did not bring any posters or chant any slogans. Nevertheless, the court found him guilty of organising an unauthorised gathering (part 2, article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

Additionally, an administrative report was drawn up against him for refusing a medical examination (article 6.9 of the Code of Administrative Offences), but that case has not yet been considered by the court.

Earlier, Akimov’s wife told OVD-Info that on 16 February, two other people had also been detained in Yaroslavl, a city north-east of Moscow. She said that one of those detained gave statements claiming the lawyer was the organiser of the gathering, although this does not correspond to the facts.

According to the St Petersburg courts’ press service, the Smolninsky District Court found Denis Dolinov and Alexander Bondarenko guilty of displaying prohibited symbols (Part 1, Article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

Two reports were filed against Dolinov for inscriptions in the snow. The press service claims that he wrote a slogan of the Ukrainian National Revolutionary Army in the snow—presumably “Glory to Ukraine.” The second report was for writing “Navalny lives.” Dolinov was sentenced to 14 days' arrest for the first inscription and 12 days for the second.

Bondarenko was sentenced to 10 days' arrest for leaving a photo of Navalny on the parapet.

In Volgograd, a major city in southern Russia, on the evening of 16 February, activist Vladimir Telpuk was detained at the monument to victims of political repression, reports Caucasian Knot.

Around 8pm, police detained the activist after he laid flowers at the plinth and took a few photos. At that time, there was no one else at the monument except himself and law enforcement officers.

Telpuk noted that at first he had approached the monument several times without flowers and the police showed no reaction.

The officers first demanded to see his documents.

“They told me I looked like someone they were searching for based on a description and that I needed to go with them to the station. At the 4th police station, they checked my documents and questioned me. They asked where I lived. I replied, in Krasnoarmeysky district. They asked what I was doing in the Central district of the city. I answered briefly,” Telpuk told the publication.

About an hour later he was released from the station without an official report being filed.

Yesterday afternoon, another Volgograd resident was detained at the monument. No report was filed for them either.

Timur Kalimullin told OVD-Info he was detained at the memorial to victims of political repression at about 5 pm. He was taken to Police Station No. 7, where he was questioned and given a formal warning. About three hours later, he was released without any charges. Kalimullin was also detained at last year’s memorial event.

In addition, there are currently eight other people in the same police station who were detained today while laying flowers. This was reported by one of the detainees, who asked to remain anonymous.

22:20 OVD-Info lawyer Maksim Kuznetsov arrived at the station to see the detainees. By that time, six people had been released without any charges. They had been questioned by a Centre “E” officer and given a formal warning.

The lawyer has not yet been allowed to see the two remaining detainees.

22:40 OVD-Info lawyer Maksim Kuznetsov clarified that there had been seven detainees: six were released from the police station with a formal warning, and one woman was released without signing anything. According to Kuznetsov, three of those detained had been at the police station since early morning.

In Moscow, police detained a protester who was holding a vigil for Navalny at the main entrance to VDNKh. They held a placard reading: “Russia will be free! 16.02.2024.” This was reported by “Slovo Zashchite” (“Word to the Defence”).

16:19 An OVD-Info lawyer, Alexey Golenko, went to assist the underage detainee at VDNKh.

19:46 The minor protester was released from the police station serving VDNKh, according to OVD-Info lawyer Alexey Golenko.

No protocol was drawn up for the protester, but one was issued for the teenager’s father, who had come to the station to pick them up. The man was charged with failure to fulfil parental duties (Part 1, Article 5.35 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

It has also come to light that journalist Grigory Potyomkin was detained alongside the protester. He himself reported this to OVD-Info. He was released even earlier. The police did not issue a protocol for him either.

In St Petersburg, police detained a man who photographed a cordoned-off memorial to the victims of political repression, reports RusNews.

Last year, on the anniversary of Navalny’s death, supporters came to this very memorial with flowers. Today, the monument was cordoned off with equipment under the pretext of some sort of works. Because of this, no one is being allowed near the memorial, and police are standing guard nearby.

“The monument has been fenced off, supposedly because work is underway. In reality, it’s obvious to everyone why this is being done. Three police officers are standing around just in case, in case someone still tries to lay flowers,” the man had earlier said.

He was taken to the 76th police station. The police intend to fine him, but under what article is unclear.

17:52 The detained St Petersburg resident was released from the station without a protocol, reports RusNews.

“Even the traffic officer at the station said this is absurd,” he said.

Police considered Noize MC’s song “Svetlaya Polosa” (“Bright Streak”) as discrediting the army, because Ukrainians listen to it during drone attacks, reports “Rotonda.”

St Petersburg police, in the record drawn up against singer Naoko (Diana Loginova), referred to a comment by a Noize MC fan from Ukraine. The fan wrote that they played the track during drone attacks on Kyiv and felt support from the musician.

The protocol states: “Thus, through both the song ‘Svetlaya Polosa’ itself and the comment regarding its release, Alekseyev I.A. is shaping a negative societal view of the Russian Federation’s special military operation.”

This probably refers to a post from last year in which Noize MC shared a message from a fan. The fan wrote: “The track and the visuals give exactly the emotion that is so lacking now—the belief that we will all get through this.”

The detained singer wrote the following in her explanation attached to the record: “I disagree with the contents.”

Currently, the lead singer of Stoptime, Naoko, who performed anti-war songs and tracks by artists labelled as ‘foreign agents’ at street gigs in St Petersburg, is serving a 13-day arrest for organising a mass simultaneous gathering of people in a public place (Art. 20.2.2 of the Code of Administrative Offences). After this, the court is expected to consider two further charges against her for discrediting the army (Part 1, Art. 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences). The guitarist and drummer of Stoptime have also received administrative arrests.

The Dzerzhinsky District Court of St Petersburg has fined Yegor Shramko 40,000 rubles (US$440) under the article on “discrediting the army” (part 1 of Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code) because of a solo protest with a placard reading: “No to war with Ukraine.” This was reported by Bumaga, citing the head of the city courts’ press service, Darya Lebedeva.

Shramko was detained on 17 October on Palace Square. For three days following his detention, OVD-Info legal defenders were not allowed to visit him. As a result, they were unable to represent him or defend his interests in court.

Today, around 17:30, Shramko told OVD-Info that he was now at home. He said he had spent nearly three days in various police departments in St Petersburg.

He was first brought to Police Station No. 78. According to Shramko, the officers who arrested him wrote two reports—one for “discrediting the army” and another for violating rules on holding protests (Article 20.2 of the Administrative Code). They also drew up a protocol for “petty hooliganism” (Article 20.1 of the Administrative Code). The activist spent two nights in Station No. 78.

On 19 October, he was then taken to Police Station No. 28. There, he was handed another petty hooliganism protocol, which alleged he was swearing near that police department. Shramko said he was fined 500 rubles (US$5.50). The activist spent another day in Station No. 28.

Today, 20 October, at around 13:00-14:00, he was taken to court in handcuffs. Following examination of the protocol on “discrediting the army,” Shramko was released.

It remains unclear whether a protocol was also drawn up under the protest-related article. One officer at Station No. 78 told him he would be jailed under that article for 10–12 days, while another denied that he was facing such charges.

20 October According to a report from RusNews, after 48 hours had passed since Egor Shramko’s detention, journalists were waiting outside the police station, but the activist never emerged. Police, however, claimed that he had left the station. Since then, Shramko has not contacted either his family or his lawyer and has not been seen online.

For the Friday protest in Palace Square, Shramko was charged with discrediting the army, taking part in an unauthorised public event, and petty hooliganism. Two of these offences can result in arrest. Vladimir Vasilenko, a defender from OVD-Info, went to look for Shramko at the Dzerzhinsky Court.

13:11 The OVD-Info defender, Vladimir Vasilenko, did not find Egor Shramko at the police station, in the temporary detention centre, or at the court

A protocol was drawn up against Andrei Morozov from Volgograd for insulting the state (Part 3 of Article 20.1 of the Administrative Code) and for inciting hatred or enmity (Article 20.3.1 of the Administrative Code) over a meme reading “Russia is fucking awesome, bro.” This was reported by “Ostorozhno, novosti.”

An administrative case was opened on 15 September. The reason was a video featuring a Brazilian football fan shouting “Russia is fucking awesome, bro” to the camera during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Morozov published the video on his VKontakte page.

The court, meanwhile, found no offence in the video and concluded that the phrase “Russia is fucking awesome, bro” does not insult the country or incite hatred. The case was dismissed.

In Perm, a major city in the Urals, the police have detained national-bolshevik activist Yevgeny Korotkov. His associates report this.

Law enforcement officers waited for the young man outside his home. Korotkov was taken to Police Station No. 6. They drew up a protocol against him for disobeying the police (Art. 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences) and held him overnight in the station until his court hearing.

According to Korotkov’s associates, his detention may be linked to the “Choose Your Makhonin” campaign, which national-bolshevik activists held ahead of the recent elections. Korotkov was detained back then as well, but was released without a protocol.

27 September The Leninsky District Court of Perm fined Yevgeny Korotkov two thousand roubles (about US$22) on 25 September under the article on disobeying the police (Art. 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences). His associates report this. “The judge relied on fabricated police reports. They state that Yevgeny allegedly resisted arrest and refused to get into the car as instructed by a law enforcement officer. In fact, that is not what happened—Zhenya was grabbed right on the street and put into the car without any introduction,” they wrote.

• A banner with the phrase “Choose Your Makhonin” and pictures of the candidates running in the gubernatorial elections appeared opposite the Perm Legislative Assembly on the morning of 12 September. Dmitry Makhonin is the current governor of Perm Krai and is running as the United Russia party candidate.

The Kaliningrad historical reconstruction centre “Kaup” has been fined 800,000 roubles (US$8,700) under the “LGBT propaganda” law (parts 1 and 3 of Article 6.21 of the Code of Administrative Offences), reports Mediazona.

The reason was photographs featuring sex toys and women kissing, which appeared on the project’s social media pages. According to the centre’s director, Anastasia Tarasova, the pictures were taken at an 18+ party called “From Dusk Till Dawn,” which was held on Kaup’s premises by an outside organiser.

The centre is known as “Viking Settlement” and hosts re-enactment festivals and the “Night Kaup” shows. In 2023, the pro-government movement “People’s Call” already complained about its events, accusing the project of “promoting occultism and neo-paganism.” Protocols against the centre had previously been drawn up under the same articles, with the materials reviewed by the Zelenograd district court in Kaliningrad region (on the Baltic Sea, westernmost Russia). Kaup has stated that the accusations are absurd and have nothing to do with their activities.

Twin brothers from Tatarstan have been fined a total of 200,000 rubles (approximately US$2,200) under the so-called “LGBT propaganda” law (Part 3, Article 6.21 of the Administrative Code). This was reported by Verstka.

The grounds for the charges, filed by Centre “E” officers, were the brothers’ blog on Instagram. The court claims that they “published posts promoting non-traditional sexual relations with a twin brother.”

The young men’s profile has several thousand followers. They post videos of their training, share stories about life in Russia and travelling abroad.

The court did not specify which particular posts police had found to contain “LGBT propaganda.” At the hearing, the brothers partially admitted guilt, explaining that they “had no intention of promoting non-traditional sexual relations.” The court, however, stated that they said this to avoid punishment for the offence.

A Chechen businessman has been sentenced to 15 days’ detention over a satirical video about migrants, Muscovites and people from the Caucasus, reports Baza.

On 19 September, the Ostankinsky District Court in Moscow found Islam Amerkhanov guilty of inciting hatred (Article 20.3.1 of the Administrative Code).

According to the court’s decision, on 16 September, the Butyrsky Interdistrict Prosecutor’s Office identified a post in the xenophobic Telegram channel ‘Migrants—the unvarnished truth,’ which featured Amerkhanov’s video.

In the recording, he comments that hundreds of taxis in Moscow are idle because, after stricter legislation, many migrants from Central Asia who used to work in the industry have lost their jobs.

“These are all cars that were supposed to be carrying your rich, arrogant arses, Muscovites. But how did it happen that so many cabs are sitting idle? Thanks to the prayers of you Muscovites—I’m not saying Russians, I’m saying specifically Muscovites—every second Asian has ended up blacklisted… And now taxis will get more expensive, because Russians and Muscovites, they don’t want to work. They want to sit and enjoy life just like me,” says Amerkhanov in an ironic tone.

The businessman goes on to predict that migrants from Central Asia in the taxi sector will be replaced by people from the Caucasus regions.

“Moscow is facing the gravest catastrophe of all—the Caucasus people. I’m doing absolutely everything I can to drag as many people from the Caucasus here to Moscow. UFC champions, MMA fighters, wrestlers, track and field athletes—now they’ll be your drivers. Taxi passengers in Moscow will have to be on their best behaviour. You won’t be able to slam the door any more or forget to brush the dirt off your shoes before you get in the car. Having a good time? Well, we’ll handle it,” he says.

The expert who prepared an analysis for the prosecution found linguistic and psychological signs in Amerkhanov’s video of inciting hatred against “people from Central Asia and the Caucasus, in respect of whom suggestions or calls are made to carry out discriminatory actions (refusing taxi rides with drivers whose surnames create suspicion that they are visitors from these regions).” However, in the video, Amerkhanov does not call for refusing rides with taxi drivers from Central Asia or the Caucasus.

The expert also identified signs of demeaning the dignity of Muscovites, “who are attributed negative behavioural traits—such as a disrespectful attitude towards taxi drivers.”

Amerkhanov himself admitted guilt in court, but said the video was a joke and that he did not intend to offend or demean the honour and dignity of Muscovites or Russians. He added that he is himself a Muscovite and “does not tolerate any disrespect for this city or its residents.”

In Moscow, security forces detained the mother of a mobilized soldier who was taking part in a solo protest. This was reported by Paulina Safronova, the wife of another participant in the war in Ukraine, on her Telegram channel.

On the anniversary of the announcement of partial mobilisation, the woman went to the Ministry of Defence with a placard reading: “21.09.22–21.09.25.” Her clothes were torn during the arrest.

18:47 The detained woman’s name is Lidiya; a report was drawn up against her for disobeying the police (Art. 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences), and she was held overnight at the Luzhniki police station until her court hearing. This was reported by ASTRA, citing Paulina Safronova.

22 September The detained protester has been out of contact for a day, reports the Telegram channel “Protection of the Rights of the Mobilized.” Her lawyer has not been allowed in because the duty officer is absent and access is forbidden as a result.

According to the channel, her administrative case has not yet been sent to court.

23 September Lidiya, the mother of the mobilized soldier, was released from the police station after two days—the maximum legal detention period. Paulina Safronova posted a video of her on her channel.

She specified that the court gave the detainee two fines: one for “discrediting the army” (Art. 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences) and one for disobeying police officers (Art. 19.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences). The first fine was 30,000 rubles (about US$320), the second—3,000 rubles (about US$32).

“Let’s say this is my cautionary experience, showing that even lawful things can turn out to be unlawful. But there must be something lawful left! So, ladies, don’t give up!” the mother of the mobilized soldier said.

The Hot Key City Court has fined former city council candidate Tatyana Pleshchakova two thousand roubles (approximately US$22) for disobeying the police (Article 19.3 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offences), reports “7×7.”

On 12 September, a staff member from the mayor’s office in Goryachy Klyuch, a small resort city in southern Russia, told candidates he planned to “work with statements” during the night. Pleshchakova refused to leave the polling station, as members of the election commission remained there after closing.

The head of precinct commission No. 1039, Manana Meshcherkina, called the police. As a result, officers removed the candidate and observers from the site, while commission members stayed behind, and a protocol was drawn up against Pleshchakova.

The Zheleznodorozhny District Court in Krasnoyarsk, a major city in Siberia, fined a local resident one thousand roubles (US$11) because of music saved on their VKontakte page. The news outlet Prospekt Mira drew attention to the court’s ruling, published on the court’s website, reporting on the case.

The authorities’ attention was drawn to the tracks “Jackpot” and “Po Funku” from the album “Injection” by the band Tyazhyolaya Atletika. The cover for “Injection” references the iconic Pink Floyd design: a white beam passing through a prism and refracted into a rainbow. On the “Injection” cover, the prism is replaced by a syringe. The court regarded the rainbow on the cover as LGBT movement symbolism.

In addition, the court ruling states that one of the track titles contained a swastika. This symbol is no longer present in the track names from “Injection” currently available on VKontakte.

A court in Stavropol fined Russian citizen Vitaly Kuznetsov, who lives in the United States, 30,000 roubles (approximately US$330) over Instagram posts and comments about Putin, the singer SHAMAN, and well-known people leaving Russia. This was reported by Verstka.

Kuznetsov was found guilty of “discrediting the Russian army” (under Article 20.3.3, Part 1 of the Administrative Code). The court ruling says he posted a photo of a person “who, by outward appearances, resembles the Russian singer SHAMAN, walking down the street.” Under the photograph, Kuznetsov wrote: No one has ever so brazenly and so openly cosplayed Hitler’s Nazis. Now they’re just outright saying: ‘Yes, we’re Nazis, so what? ’

In addition, the court considered another of Kuznetsov’s comments about harsher laws on “discrediting” the armed forces to be discrediting. “In other words, it’s not the soldiers who kill, rape and rob that are discrediting the Russian army, but the fact that someone says it out loud. Classic,” Kuznetsov commented on an RBC publication. The Stavropol court also included another 15 comments in the charges.