Week-ending 4 September 2020
The artist and activist Yulia Tsvetkova is on trial, charged with an offence under Article 242, Part 3, Point b, of the Russian Criminal Code. Amnesty International has called the charges absurd.
Article 242 of the Russian Criminal Code
Illegal production or trafficking of pornographic materials or items
1. Illegal production and (or) transport across the State Border of the Russian Federation for the purpose of distribution, public demonstration or advertisement of pornographic materials or items shall be punished by a fine ranging from 100,000 roubles to 300,000 roubles or to the amount of wages or other income of the convicted person for the period from one year to two years, or by forced labor for up to two years, or imprisonment for the same period.
2. Distribution, public demonstration or advertising of pornographic materials or objects to minors, or involving a minor in the circulation of pornographic materials or objects committed by a person who has reached the age of 18 years shall be punished by deprivation of liberty for a period of from two to five years with or without a ban on the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for a period of up to 10 years.
3. Actions, provided for by parts one or two of the current article committed:
а) by a group of persons with prior agreement or by an organised group;
b) using mass media, including informational and telecommunications networks (including the Internet);
c) providing a large income;
are punishable by deprivation of liberty for a period of from two to six years with or with out a ban on holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities for a period of up to 15 years.
Note. Large income in the current article, and also in Article 242.1 of the current Code is income exceeding 50,000 roubles.
On Wednesday, 2 September 2020, Amnesty International in a statement said the trial against Yulia Tsvetkova, an artist and activist from Komsomolsk-on-Amur in the Russian Far East, is expected to start soon. She faces up to six years in prison if convicted under absurd charges of “production and dissemination of pornography” for her drawings of the female body. Yulia Tsvetkova, who has been relentlessly targeted since March 2019 for promoting LGBTI and women’s rights through her art, was placed under house arrest between 22 November and 16 March 2020 and remains under a travel ban. The charges have been brought against Yulia Tsvetkova under Article 242, Part 3, Point b, of the Russian Criminal Code.
Source for the Russian Criminal Code: KonsultantPlius
