6 July 2024
OVD-Info is a Russian civil society organisation that monitors politically-motivated arrests and prosecutions in Russia. Each week OVD-Info publishes a bulletin with the latest news, which is translated here. To receive the mailing in Russian, visit here.
Aleksandr and Lydia Nevzorov have been designated an “extremist group”, a criminal case was opened against an Ekaterinburg human rights activist for displaying the Facebook logo, and political prisoners were threatened for receiving the samizdat Prison Bulletin
News
The journalist Aleksandr Nevzorov and his wife have been designated an ‘extremist group’. Their property – land and a building on one of them, a residential building, a car and 25% of the capital of Piter-Technoproject-New Resources LLC – were confiscated by the state. The city prosecutor’s office filed a lawsuit to recognize the family as an “extremist association” in the St. Petersburg court. In February 2023, Nevzorov was sentenced in absentia to eight years on a charge of disseminating military “fake news,” and in April a new criminal case was opened against him for failure to fulfill the duties of a “foreign agent.”
- Why is this important? It seems this is the first such case in Russian law enforcement. Meduza writes that by designating the family as an “extremist group,” the authorities violated several legal norms at once. Most likely the decision was made to deprive the couple of their property, since this could not be done in any other way (the prosecutor’s office had previously filed several civil lawsuits). It is not known whether the authorities will continue to use this practice, but other attempts have already been made. On 3 July it became known that the Prosecutor General’s Office had filed a lawsuit to designate the businessman Yury Shefler and the alcohol companies controlled by him as an “extremist group.”
A criminal case has been opened against a human rights defender from Ekaterinburg for repeatedly displaying the Facebook logo. On 5 5 July the homes of Aleksei Sokolov, his son and the lawyer Larisa Zakharova were searched. The human rights activist said that security forces beat him. Footage of the arrest shows him being placed on the floor and being asked “What position he holds in the criminal world.” Sokolov may be remanded in custody at a court hearing set for 8 July. Previously, in 2023, Sokolov had been jailed for five days because of the Facebook logo on the website “Human Rights Defenders of the Urals.” This time the reason for the prosecution persecution is the appearance of the social network’s logo on the project’s Telegram channel. The indictment also states that Sokolov disseminated false reports “aimed at discrediting the activities of the penal system.”
- Why do I need to know this? The security forces use the most absurd methods to get rid of those who fight against repression, even if we are talking about lawyers simply helping prisoners. Now an ordinary badge with the logo of a social network is treated as “extremism” and a reason to put someone behind bars. On this charge, Aleksei Sokolov faces up to four years in prison.
Prisoners convicted in cases related to the war against Ukraine are threatened for receiving Tiuremny vestnik [Prison Bulletin]. Savely Frolov, convicted of trying to join the Free Russia Legion, was told he might be transferred to strict conditions of detention. The Ukrainian citizen Petro Opalnik has also faced threats for receiving samizdat in a remand prison. He is being prosecuted on charges of confidential cooperation with a foreign state and attempting to organize voluntary surrender.
- Why is it important? Tiuremny vestnik is a samizdat publication for political prisoners, containing reports about events that happened during the month. It is not banned in Russia, and its authors, given the issue of censorship, try to write texts so as to comply with Russian laws. Despite this, prison staff seek to deprive political prisoners of access to this publication to increase their isolation
A St Petersburg artist has been sentenced to compulsory work for a tatoo of Jesus Christ. Daria Krichker has been convicted on a criminal charge of for insulting the feelings of believers. The grounds for the prosecution was one of the artist’s works, which was called “Jesus at the Moment of Orgasm.” Krichker was detained at Pulkovo airport in February as she was leaving for Yerevan. Members of the “Forty Forty” movement had written a denunciation against her.
- Why do I need to know this? The SOVA Research Centre notes that the concept of “insulting the religious feelings of believers,” introduced into Art. 148 of the Criminal Code, is unclear and does not nor cannot have a clear legal meaning. However, prosecutions for this offence are regularly brought in Russia for a variety of reasons – for example, because of catching Pokemon in a church or because of “paths” drawn in chalk on an icon. The authorities are trying with all their might to protect “traditional” and Orthodox values, so any mockery or irony with regard to sacred objects and symbols is considered sufficient grounds for a criminal prosecution.
Features
“I screamed in pain and asked how I should answer”. Stories of serial killers and veganism are an unusual set of interests, but that’s exactly what Ruslan Ushakov has. To be a vegan, fortunately, is still allowed, but the true crime genre has been worrying the security forces for seven years now. Because of this concern, Ushakov has been sent to a penal colony. His crime: ironic messages that he left on the Telegram chat of his “Real Crime” channel. You can read on our website about how the blogger was threatened with sexual violence, how he was tortured and how he has been imprisoned for eight years.
Why do LGBTQ+ people remain in Russia despite the risk of prosecution? In 2024, Russia is recognized as the most unsafe country for LGBTQ+ people in Europe. People are fined for photos with rainbow flags, security forces conduct raids on clubs and parties, people are taken into custody for working in a club, online cinemas and TV channels are fined for queer scenes in films, and transgender transition has been prohibited from July 2023. We talked to LGBTQ+ people who, despite all this, remain in Russia. You can read on our website about why they don’t want to leave.
Translated by Rights in Russia
