Activists of the Amur branch of the Union of Russian People were sentenced in Blagoveshchensk

On June 30, 2008, the Blagoveshchensk City Court delivered a verdict in the case of the Amur branch of the Union of the Russian People. The leader of the organization, Igor Terekhov, as well as his "comrades-in-arms" Sergei Sychev and Yevgeny Smirnov, were found guilty under Art. 282.1 (organization of an extremist community) and Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (incitement of national, racial and religious hatred). S. Sychev and E. Smirnov were sentenced to 2 and 2.6 and a half years of probation. I. Terekhov was sentenced to 3 years in a colony-settlement.

When sentencing Yevgeny Smirnov, the court took into account the presence of minor children and a pregnant wife on his behalf.

"In our opinion, their actions are qualified under the indicated articles of the Criminal Code. All those statements were made publicly - at rallies or in the media that made materials about this," said state prosecutor Oksana Mazyarkina.

The defendants expressed their disagreement with the prosecution and are going to appeal against the decision of the court.

;According to the letter and spirit of the law, I can and should be judged for specific proven actions, and I am judged for the word, thoughts, moods and assessments that are contained in my speech; , - said E. Smirnov.

I. Terekhov said that he considers the case "falsified". "The prosecutor's office has begun political persecution. I do not admit guilt, I am not going to ask the court for anything, but I will say that in our person you are judging the Russian people!" he added.

The prosecution demanded 4.5 years for Terekhov in a colony-settlement, for Smirnov and Sychev - 3.5 years each.

Let us recall that a branch of the "Union of the Russian people" in the Amur region appeared in January 2006. I. Terekhov held a constituent assembly in Blagoveshchensk, at which he made a number of anti-Semitic statements. In March 2006, a criminal case was initiated against the chairman of the Amur RNC under Part 1 of Art. 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. In this case, I. Terekhov was convicted on September 20, 2007.

After the initiation of the case, representatives of the RNC held a picket of the Philharmonic before the performance of Sergei Penkin, organized several meetings and rallies. In addition, activists of the organization's organization tried in November 2007 to hold a "Russian March" .

On January 28, 2007, the Amur branch of the RNC organized a nationalist rally , which was attended by 45 people. After the rally, an inspection of the organization's activities began.

In mid-March 2007, was initiated under Part 1 of Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (inciting national hatred). a criminal case

During the searches, NRC paraphernalia, nationalist literature, and a film with "extremist content" were confiscated from members of the organization. Based on the linguo-stylistic examination, it was concluded that the materials contain "phrases about the" Jewish yoke "and" Jewish fascism "that degrade human dignity" . Also, according to investigators, the local "Union of the Russian people" planned to purchase weapons.

Criminal case under Art. 282-1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (an organization of an extremist community) was initiated by the prosecutor's office of Blagoveshchensk at the end of April 2007. Journalists note that "the case under this article was the first in the Far East" . Later, the criminal cases were merged into one.

According to law enforcement agencies, in May 2007 the local branch of the RNC was closed, but the convicts say that "the organization continues its activities."

Sources

• Two out of three Amur nationalists were given suspended sentences // Amur.info. 2008. June 30.
• Kolomeytsev S. "Union of the Russian people" is waiting for the verdict // Amurskaya Pravda. 2008. July 2.