News

On 28 May, the Kerch City Court in occupied Crimea upheld a fine against local resident Irina Khokhatkina: 100,000 roubles (approximately US$1,100) for posting memes featuring men in wedding dresses. This information appeared on the court’s website and was noted by Verstka media.

Khokhatkina was found guilty under the so-called “LGBTQ propaganda” article (part 3, article 6.21, Code of Administrative Offences). The grounds were two posts on VKontakte. In one of them, there were four memes featuring men in wedding dresses with captions: “Why should I invite you on a date?,” “I was waiting for you to make the first move,” “Let’s split the bill,” and “Prove and show that you need me.” According to the court’s decision, the memes “show the appearance of men with characteristics that, in Russian culture, do not correspond to the image of a man of traditional sexual orientation,” and also display “traditional feminine traits and features.”

The other post that caught the attention of law enforcement was a video “showing two girls in bed, naked and kissing.”

The case was initially tried in a magistrate’s court. In her appeal, Khokhatkina noted that the memes with men in wedding dresses were a repost from a public page about relationships between men and women and remain publicly accessible.

Activist Zulfiya Sitdikova from Kazan, a major city in Tatarstan, has been fined 80,000 rubles (about US$900) under the offence of “discrediting the army with calls for unsanctioned rallies” (Part 2, Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences), reports ASTRA.

The report against her was drawn up over a street photo. According to the court, Sitdikova took a photograph in the street in Kazan of a person holding a placard reading: “There’s no way, it’s time to turn back,” and then published the photo in an anonymous Telegram channel. The court considered this discrediting the army.

In May 2024, Sitdikova was given a two-year suspended sentence with a four-year probation period, for repeat discreditation of the armed forces (Part 1, Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code) and “rehabilitation of Nazism” (Part 3, Article 354.1 of the Criminal Code) due to placards reading “No to war” and “9 waya.”

The activist was detained at the end of May 2023, but was released from the police station without charges; she had not held a picket. On 18 July, it became known that following this detention, a criminal case was initiated against Sitdikova for “discrediting the armed forces,” her home was searched, and she was released afterwards. The case also includes a second episode: a placard reading “No to war,” left at the Eternal Flame in Kazan’s Victory Park.

The Kirov District Court in Crimea has fined the independent Muslim community “Eski Qırım” 400,000 roubles (approx. US$4,400) under the article on spreading “extremist” materials (Article 20.29 of the Administrative Code). This was reported by Crimean Solidarity, citing lawyer Nazim Sheikhmambetov, who represented the community in court.

The reason for the fine was the discovery of books in the “Zubeyr-Jami” mosque in Stary Krym, a town in Crimea, which are classified as “banned” in Russia. It is in this mosque that members of the “Eski Qırım” community and other worshippers gather.

According to Sheikhmambetov, there were breaches in the case by law enforcement officers, who carried out operational-search activities (ORM) in the mosque. In particular, the lawyer claims that police officers entered the building 10 minutes before the rest of the ORM participants.

“The [CCTV] footage shows those who entered turning off the electricity switch, cutting power to the mosque. One of them went into the hall, and then they both gestured towards something. There could be many assumptions about what exactly the officers did there. Only after this did the officers leave the mosque, invite in the ORM participants, public representatives and the [mosque] owner, and then ‘discover’ the [banned] books. This is a gross violation of ORM procedure. This protocol cannot be considered valid,” the defence lawyer stated.

He also pointed out that the “Eski Qırım” community does not own the “Zubeyr-Jami” mosque and therefore cannot be held responsible for everything that happens inside it.

In February 2024, law enforcement raided the homes of the “Eski Qırım” community imam Izet Saifullin, chair Idris Yurdumov, and two activists—Lenur Yakubov and Shevket Kiyamov.

Yurdumov was released with a protocol for possessing “banned” literature (Article 20.29 of the Administrative Code). Later, under this protocol, the community was fined 100,000 roubles (approx. US$1,100). Saifullin received a protocol for violating rules on missionary activity (Part 4, Article 5.26 of the Administrative Code), and Yakubov received a protocol for displaying extremist symbols (Part 1, Article 20.3 of the Administrative Code).

N. Strometsky, a resident of Kotelnikovo in Volgograd region, was sentenced to seven days of administrative arrest for shouting “Glory to Ukraine” and “Ukraine will win” in the street. This was reported by the Dozor v Volgograde channel.

Protocol reports were drawn up against Strometsky for promoting banned symbols (Art. 20.3 of the Administrative Code) and “discrediting” the Russian Armed Forces (Art. 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code). In court, the Kotelnikovo resident admitted guilt and expressed remorse. The judge found no mitigating circumstances in the case.

A report on the “discrediting of the army” (Part 1, Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences) has been drawn up against Alexander Shikolai, frontman of the deathcore band Slaughter to Prevail. The case file at the Nagatinsky District Court in Moscow was discovered by Mediazona.

The grounds for the report are currently unknown. There are anti-war posts on the band’s social media pages. For instance, on 26 February 2022 the band’s Facebook page published a statement: “No to war! Our band has nothing to do with politics, we do not take sides. We support all peaceful people in this world and peace worldwide. We do not accept ANY kind of military action.”

On Instagram, Shikolai also spoke out against the war: “This is an official statement from the whole band. We are against war. We are against any war. It is very painful to watch what is happening in Ukraine now. We have been to Ukraine many times. Please don’t judge all Russians. We wish peaceful skies to Ukraine!”

In an interview with Yuri Dud, Shikolai also said that his band stands “against any military conflicts, wherever they happen and whoever is involved,” and added that he would not continue the subject as he “might say too much.”

19:52 The Nagatinsky District Court in Moscow has fined Alexander Shikolai 50,000 roubles (approximately US$550) over the case of “discrediting” the Russian Armed Forces. This was reported via the Moscow courts’ official channel.

The reason for the fine was not explained by the court press service.

Denis Zagorye, a journalist from Murmansk who works for the Barents Observer, has been fined five thousand roubles (about US$55) under the article on participation in the activities of an “undesirable” organisation (Article 20.33 of the Code of Administrative Offences). This was reported on the publication’s website. The decision was made today by the Oktyabrsky District Court in Murmansk, a city in Russia’s far north.

“I chose to work here a long time ago. Nothing will change in my work,” commented Zagorye on the court’s decision, which he called unlawful.

At the start of 2025, the Prosecutor General’s Office declared the Barents Observer “undesirable.” The agency claimed that the publication’s journalists “openly support the West’s sanctions policy and call for increased NATO military presence at our borders.”

Staff at the Barents Observer disagreed with the decision and filed a lawsuit against the Prosecutor General’s Office, stating that recognising the publication as “undesirable” “violates freedom of the press, which is guaranteed by the Russian constitution.”

A protocol for “LGBT propaganda” (Part 1 of Article 6.21 of the Code of Administrative Offences) has been drawn up against the bookshop “Podpisnye Izdaniya.” This was reported by “Bumaga,” citing the press service of the city courts.

It is not yet known what exactly prompted the protocol. On 10 April, law enforcement officers visited the bookshop for an inspection. They confiscated several dozen books that mentioned LGBT issues. After the inspection, “Podpisnye Izdaniya” was given a list of 48 books that needed to be removed from the shop’s shelves.

At the end of May, the shop was fined 800,000 roubles (approx. US$9,000) under the same article. The Kuibyshev District Court found “LGBT propaganda” in Susan Sontag’s books “On Women” and “Against Interpretation and Other Essays,” as well as Olivia Laing’s “The Lonely City.”

In June, the court fined Elena Orlova, the director of “Podpisnye Izdaniya,” 20,000 roubles (approx. US$225). She was charged under the article on cooperation with an “undesirable organisation” (Art. 20.33 of the Code of Administrative Offences) because of Igor Olinevich’s book “I’m Going to Magadan.” The police and court claimed that the book was published with the support of the Belarusian Anarchist Black Cross, which is designated as “undesirable” in Russia.

10 July—The Kuibyshev District Court in St Petersburg closed the case against “Podpisnye Izdaniya” due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, reports the United Press Service of the city’s courts.

The shop was accused of selling 37 books which, according to experts from the Herzen State Pedagogical University, allegedly contained LGBT propaganda.

A 38-year-old resident of Sevastopol has been fined 69,000 rubles (US$765) over comments in Telegram chats. This was reported on the Ministry of Internal Affairs website.

According to law enforcement, the woman had previously “lived in Kyiv for a long time” and returned to her hometown in 2017 “to obtain a Russian Federation passport for inheritance purposes.”

Officials allege the Sevastopol local repeatedly posted in “pro-Ukrainian themed” chats, sharing her “positive emotions regarding air raid sirens in the city [Sevastopol], openly expressing her joy.” They also claim she changed her nickname each month to “avoid detection.”

Some of her comments included: “Here in Crimea, there are more and more who hate you <…>,” “Go off to the front, you couch worm,” “I belong to no one, I support Ukraine. You’re filling people’s heads with the idea that everything must be given up: give your house to the Buryats, pimp out your mum <…>, but at least you’re all <…> and lick the ‘liberators.’ Maybe they’ll toss you a bone.”

The woman was detained on the street by OMON police. She has been charged with inciting hatred (part 1 of article 20.3.1 of the Administrative Code) and twice with “discrediting” the Russian Armed Forces (part 1 of article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code).

Law enforcement have also sent case materials to the Investigative Committee under a criminal article on spreading “fakes” (para. “d” part 2 of article 207.3 of the Criminal Code). The woman faces up to ten years in prison.

The Smolninsky District Court of St Petersburg sentenced local resident Evgeny Elgin to 10 days of administrative detention. According to the court, he posted a comment in the Telegram channel of journalist Alexander Nevzorov, beginning with the words: “Glory to Ukraine—Glory to the Heroes….”

The court deemed this to be “the official greeting of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN),” which is designated as extremist in Russia. Elgin received administrative detention under the article on propaganda of Nazi symbols (part 1, article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences).

A tribute concert to Noize MC in Barnaul, a major city in Siberia, had to be cancelled following pressure from pro-government activists. This was reported by “7×7,” citing organiser Oleg Grigoryev.

The event had been scheduled for 17 July. “The reason for the cancellation is quite simple: Z-activists woke up, and, as I understand it, it wasn’t any particular group but rather individual citizens. First, they left negative comments under the concert announcement post, then started sending private messages. One man was especially active and I believe he ‘helped’ in this situation, since we were made to understand ‘from above’ that it would be better to cancel the concert to avoid consequences,” Grigoryev explained. He added that previously, he had freely held tribute concerts in the city for anti-war performers such as Zemfira, Pornofilmy, and Nervy.

“7×7” also noted that activists from the Young Guard of United Russia may have contributed to the event’s cancellation. One of them, Elena Bessonova, wrote under a post about the cancellation: “We didn’t let it happen, together.”

• In November 2022, Noize MC (real name Ivan Alekseyev) was declared a “foreign agent.” The musician left Russia after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
  
  

A resident of Magadan was fined 10,000 rubles (about US$110) for commenting “A bunch of devils and cops” under a photo of police officers. SOTA drew attention to the court’s decision.

Denis Rovinsky, who is from Magadan (a city in Russia’s Far East), left this comment on the Magadan Region Directorate of the Interior Ministry’s page on Odnoklassniki under a photo from a police garrison lineup marking the 70th anniversary of the regional headquarters.

The man’s comment was sent for analysis to the Interior Ministry’s expert forensic centre, which concluded that it expressed a negative attitude towards Interior Ministry staff and the leadership of Magadan Region’s authorities.

The court found Rovinsky guilty of inciting hatred (Art. 20.3.1 of the Administrative Code). During the hearing, he admitted his guilt.

The Yeltsin Centre has cancelled the dramatic performance “At the Speed of a Play” following a post in the “UralLive” channel, which is connected to the propagandist Vladimir Solovyov. This was reported by It’s My City.

The performance was due to take place this evening and was intended to mark the end of the theatre season at the cultural venue. According to the idea of its creator, Maria Kontorovich, head of the Yeltsin Centre’s theatre platform, she would have created a play together with the audience in real time during the event.

A day before the performance, the “UralLive” channel posted criticism of Kontorovich. The author of the post accused her of supporting Ukraine due to a flag on her profile picture on Facebook and an anti-war letter published on her page.

“There’s also a strange video post on her page about our soldiers: ‘Perm, Yekaterinburg—take your people back from here—the prisoners, the dead, and those who have not yet landed in the meat grinder’—that’s the caption placed above a video about our prisoners. Why is this necessary?,” reads the “UralLive” post.

The channel also claimed that “an open supporter of Ukraine has no right to hold” the position of head of the Yeltsin Centre’s theatre platform.

On the evening of 4 July, the post announcing Kontorovich’s performance was deleted from the Yeltsin Centre’s Telegram channel. The venue’s press service confirmed to journalists that the event would not take place, but did not state the reasons for the cancellation.

In April, the Yeltsin Centre removed the play “I Killed the Tsar” by director Vladimir Mirzoev from its programme, and in February a planned event with poet German Lukomnikov was cancelled. According to “UralLive” and the “Russian Community,” these figures allegedly hold anti-Russian views.

In May, it became known that a lecture by philosophy populariser Dmitry Khaustov would not be held. And in mid-June, the centre removed a lecture by Nikolai Nakhsunov, a lecturer at Shaninka, from its schedule. This also followed a post in the “UralLive” channel.

In Sochi, a woman originally from Azerbaijan has been fined for pro-Ukrainian slogans. This was reported by the outlet “Sochi Online.”

The amount of the fine is unknown. The court found the woman guilty under the article on promoting or displaying the symbols of an extremist organisation (Part 1, Article 20.3 of the Administrative Code).

As the Telegram channel Baza reported, a Sochi resident named Esmira was walking down the street and shouting certain pro-Ukrainian slogans. “The woman wanted to express her protest over the recent tension in Russian-Azerbaijani relations,” Baza wrote.

Two days later, Esmira was detained so that a protocol could be drawn up.

On 2 July, the Pervorechensky District Court of Vladivostok fined computer company manager Dmitry Bolychev 30,000 roubles (about US$325). OVD-Info found this information on the court’s website.

The court found Bolychev guilty of “discrediting” the Russian Armed Forces (part 1 of article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences). The case was triggered by an anti-war comment he left in a Telegram channel belonging to the outlet NEWS.VL, under a post about the construction of a bridge to Yelena Island in Vladivostok (a port city in Russia’s Far East).

Bolychev wrote: “What I mean is that Russia is killing Ukrainians. On mainstream channels there are calls for the death of Ukrainians and for the destruction of cities. Ukraine is being denied subjectivity, and Ukrainian citizens—the right to self-determination. This is exactly what Nazis do.”

In court, the Vladivostok resident admitted his guilt and agreed with the protocol drawn up against him.

On 6 June, the Khasansky District Court in Primorsky Krai sentenced a local resident, Alexei Bedarev, to 12 days in detention for the comment “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!” in a Telegram chat. SOTA reports this.

He was found guilty under the article on displaying symbols of an extremist organisation (Part 1, Article 20.3 of the Administrative Code). In the court’s ruling, it is stated that these slogans are considered symbols of the “Ukrainian National Revolutionary Army” (UNRA).

The comment in question appeared in the chat of the Telegram channel Sasha Shpack Official, which belongs to the blogger and bodybuilder Aleksandr Shpak. In September 2024, Shpak himself was sentenced in absentia to eight years in a penal colony for anti-war posts.

At the court hearing, Bedarev admitted his guilt and stated that he did not know the slogans were associated with a banned organisation.

A protocol for “discrediting the army” (part 1, article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences) has been drawn up against Yelizaveta Snimshchikova, a representative of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Kaluga region. OVD-Info found a case file on the website of the Zhukovsky District Court in Kaluga region.

Snimshchikova told OVD-Info that the protocol was drawn up because of two of her Telegram avatars: in one, she was wearing a brooch shaped like a heart in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, and in the other, there was a caption reading “No to war.”

After the protocol was filed, she submitted a letter resigning her authority as a representative.

The court will review the protocol on 31 July.

Snimshchikova is a lawyer and mother of three children. She was the ombudsperson’s representative in Tarusa district, where she received appeals from local residents. The regional ombudsperson’s report for 2024 noted that Snimshchikova worked on appeals relating to the rights of children, housing rights, the payment of pensions and social welfare, the provision of housing and communal services, and healthcare.

Russian courts have banned four pages about the Russian army on censored Wikipedia analogues, “Ruviki” and “Runiversalis.” This was reported by Verstka. The decisions to restrict access to these pages were handed down by courts in the Kirov region, Tomsk and Altai Krai.

According to Verstka, the restricted articles covered the 8th and 13th missile divisions, and the 35th and 74th separate guards motorised rifle brigades. Prosecutor’s office staff requested that access to all these pages be limited. In their version, the “Ruviki” and “Runiversalis” websites published information that constitutes “official secrecy in the field of defence.”

One of the court rulings states that the page about the 74th brigade contained data “revealing [its] deployment, actual name, organisational structure,” as well as information on available weaponry, military and specialised equipment.

At present, the “Ruviki” service has deleted the article on the 8th missile division, while information about the 13th missile division has disappeared from “Runiversalis.” However, the latter online encyclopaedia still has articles available about the 74th and 35th motorised rifle brigades.

• “Runiversalis” and “Ruviki” were launched after the start of the war in Ukraine. Both projects were set up using Wikipedia as a base, copying and censoring its main set of articles. In particular, Verstka notes that, after launch, “Ruviki” deleted a page about “Putin’s palace” as well as references to the Russian occupation of Ukrainian territories.

At the request of the Sovetsky District Court of Astrakhan, Roskomnadzor has blocked access in Russia to the website of the Declarator project, which focuses on officials’ incomes and property. The project team announced this.

The court ordered the blocking as a provisional protection measure in response to an administrative lawsuit—pending a decision on the case itself. Earlier, the Astrakhan Region prosecutor’s office filed the lawsuit demanding a block, alleging “discrediting of the institution of state power.”

“Back on 16 May, the court ruled that Roskomnadzor must block our site. Neither before nor during the proceedings were we notified of any grievances. Even though the project’s contact email is listed on literally every page of the website. The case file is written in such a way that our project is not mentioned at all,” Declarator stated.

No final decision on a permanent block has yet been made.

Two lecturers at St Petersburg State University have been fined under the article on “discrediting the army” (Article 20.3.3 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offences). This was reported by TASS, citing Veronika Peshina, a spokesperson for the city courts’ joint press office.

The Kalininsky District Court imposed a 30,000-rouble fine (approximately US$340) on Yury Yakuboviy, Associate Professor at the Department of Probability Theory and Mathematical Statistics. According to the press office, he “posted publications discrediting the army in two Telegram channels.”

The second university employee, Aleksandr Zelnitsky, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Theory and Methodology of Teaching Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa, was fined 35,000 roubles (approximately US$400) by the Moskovsky District Court of St Petersburg. The press office did not specify what prompted the fine for the lecturer.

At the request of a person involved, information about action against another individual has been removed from this report.

On 27 June, the Verkh-Isetsky District Court of Yekaterinburg fined architect Polina Ivanova 40,000 roubles (approx. US$450) under the article on ‘discrediting’ the army (Part 1 of Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code). This was reported by Mediazona.

Earlier, the Sverdlovsk Regional Court overturned a fine for the same amount previously handed to Ivanova in this administrative case. The case was then sent to another court for review.

Ivanova was detained on 30 April so that a protocol could be drawn up. The reason was her anti-war post on Facebook, published in February 2022. Because of the detention, the architect had to cancel a lecture on the history of Yekaterinburg, which was planned for the same day.

Two weeks earlier, the Piotrovsky bookshop cancelled the launch of Ivanova’s book, A Guide to Sverdlovsk and Yekaterinburg. This happened after a post from the pro-government channel UralLive, which was circulated by the right-wing Russian Community movement. The propagandists drew attention to the event announcement and began criticising Ivanova for her anti-war stance and alleged cooperation with Leonid Volkov’s brother.

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.