A court in the city of Kropotkin, Krasnodar Territory, fined blogger Aleksandr Shabanov 35,000 rubles under an administrative article for “discrediting” the Russian armed forces. The fine stemmed from the publication of several videos opposing the war in Ukraine and critiquing the Russian Orthodox church in relation to the conflict. Among the videos cited in the fine were entitled: “War with Ukraine! And the entire democratic world”, “Stop the war! 100 seconds before a nuclear strike” and “Gundyaev called for rallying around the power of crooks and thieves”. Shabanov pleaded not guilty to the offence in court. The court sided with the police who drew up the protocol. The case file included testimonies from “members of the public” who watched the video.
Russia-Ukraine WarCensorship and regulationPublication ban, take-down order or forced deletion, fine, administrative action