Unlawful anti-extremism. May 2011

May 2011 was marked by the fact that for the first time in the history of monitoring misuse of anti-extremist we felt the legislation and realized the need to start new rubric , which would reflect positive developments towards to correct the current sad situations. It was associated with the first significant purge of the Federal list of extremist materials. IN the rest we observed all the previous trends.

On May 3, the Ministry of Justice withdrew from the Federal list of extremist materials long-suffering books by Ron Hubbard (paras. 632-660), in respect of which never there was no judicial decisions to ban them. In addition, there was part of the records duplicating is excluded previous (paras. 667, 677-679 and 682). This - definitely a positive step, aimed at giving the List functionality and meaningfulness. However, the path ahead of the Ministry of Justice, is still very long, and we doubt the fundamental possibility of achieving ultimate goal.

Criminal prosecution

In May, at least six criminal cases on the grounds that we don't think it's right.

We would like to pay special attention case under Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (initiation of social hatred) in Magnitogorsk regarding trade union activists Andrei and Olesya Romanovs, excited for posting online video with the scene Andrey's detention by police officers.

In addition, in May, two verdict: guilty of follower of Said Nursi in Makhachkala (Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, organization of activities extremist organization) and acquittal in the same regard employees of the newspaper "Chernovik" (art. 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, initiation of social hate).

Case of a Jehovah's Witness from Gorno-Altaisk Alexandra Kalistratova, formerly acquitted under the article on incitation religious hatred, it became again relevant: May 26 Supreme Court of the Republic Altai returned the case for a new trial to the court of first instance.

Administrative persecution

In May, one illegal administrative case in Krasnodar part 1 of Art. 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (propaganda and public demonstration of Nazi paraphernalia or symbols) upon placement in Internet video with comic congratulations happy birthday where is the main character - dressed in the uniform of the SS Stirlitz.

In addition, in the Sverdlovsk region was found guilty under Art. 20.29 Administrative Code of the Russian Federation (spread of extremist materials) and fined the director of one from libraries for the fact that the fund had forbidden book. Recall, according to library legislation do not have the right to withdraw books from the collections.

Anti-extremist warnings mass media

In May, Roskomnadzor issued two illegal media warnings: Vechorka newspaper (Chita) for publishing a photo from a in the free sale of a lighter with swastika on it and the newspaper "Evening Tyumen" for a quote from Hitler. Recall we do not consider lawful persecution for quoting prohibited materials as such. In the article for which issued a warning to the Tyumen newspaper, the quote was not used for Nazi propaganda.

Recognition of materials as extremist

In May it became known about the decision Pervomaisky District Court of the city Krasnodar dated April 22, 2011 on recognition extremist four editions Jehovah's Witnesses, and that 28 April 2011 in the city of Salsk court of the Rostov region resumed extremist process five more items Jehovah's Witnesses (this process began in March 2009).

Rulemaking

On May 11, the State Duma rejected another bill to tighten penalties for crimes based on hate. Similar bills have been brought in more than once and never were adopted by the State Duma. This bill was submitted to Parliament Moscow City Duma in October 2010 and assumed tightening penalties for crimes committed motivated by hatred, investigating racist violence from the jurisdiction of the court jury and the introduction of administrative responsibility for the media for mentioning ethnicity in the criminal chronicle. We we can only welcome the fact that useless and even harmful legislative initiative was not accepted.