A case has been filed against trade union activists in Magnitogorsk

May 17, 2011 in Magnitogorsk in the framework of a criminal case on Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (inciting social hatred) a search was conducted in the apartment trade union activists Andrey and Olesya Romanov.

The case was initiated on the fact of publication on the website mkedo.ru video called "Fascists in uniform". Scene captured on video detention of Andrei Romanov by police officers. The action takes place in hospital, where Romanov ended up after being beaten at a protest rally. Romanov was detained with the use of force, so how the pensioners accompanying the trade unionist were indignant at the actions police officers and entered into an argument with them, arguing that the detention was illegal.

In our opinion, there is nothing in the video that could fall under the definition of extremism. Swearing at the address of the police officers is heard, but her cannot be interpreted as inciting hatred or asserting inferiority on the basis of belonging to a group. These are the statements addressed to specific people who, in the opinion of the speaker, illegal actions.

In addition, we do not consider it correct to use 282 articles to protect the interests of police officers, since this professional the group is sufficiently protected by other articles of the Criminal Code.

Sources

• Trade unions in Magnitogorsk. Searches and trial // ICD. 2011. May 18.