Putin's mustache

A civil activist is pursued for a poster with the image of a person who is similar to Putin and Hitler

In Nizhny Novgorod, a trial continues against civil activist Arkady Galker, who took a poster with the image of a person who looked like Putin and Hitler to coordinated protests. The coordinator of the Civil Resistance movement is accused of violating picket rules . In connection with this case, Arkady Ghalcar already had other problems.

The police officers warned the coordinator of the Civil Resistance movement Arkady Ghalcker in personal conversations: there is no need to insult the head of state with such images. However, the activist went out with his poster not only on protest promotions in his city, but also took part in the march of the world, which was held in Moscow in September. The district court has already considered the Gchar case and sentenced him to a fine of 10 thousand rubles. The activist filed a complaint with the regional court - there they decided to return the case to the lower court. Now Arkady Galker can become a defendant in another case of an administrative violation, and at work-in the production and design association "heat exchanger" -he is reduced after many months of attempts to force him to leave at his own request.

- We spent the first on March 2 with Erius on March 2, literally the day after the Federation Council agreed to use troops in Ukraine. We spent such pickets regularly, every week, until May. The poster with a portrait, similar simultaneously to Putin and Hitler, at first caused discontent, but for a long time did not know how to complain about this. And in the end, when I was the organizer of the next picket on April 27, even before the start of the action, we received a notification that it was unacceptable during the action to violate Russian legislation, and in words they said that it was impossible to insult the head of state. These were the police who guarded the security of our action, it was agreed. I was detained for the shares, delivered to the police department, where they issued a protocol under Article 20.2, part 5 "Violation of the procedure for picketing."

- A policeman who allegedly did not like your poster opposed you.

- Yes. But, as far as I know, the customer was the local branch of the FSB.

- Is this poster your idea?

- The idea was mine. The first time they made a similar poster on March 9, then it was a little redid, and from March 16 it actually does not change, we used it on all anti -war actions dedicated to Ukrainian themes. Against the backdrop of the Ukrainian flag, the inscription in white letters “Putin, out of Ukraine!”, And in the corner of the caricature of Putin, which is drawn by bangs and mustache that make him like Hitler. This poster was held by many, in fact. I was far from the only one with him. But, apparently, the fact that I was the author of the poster, in the end, filled the bowl of patience of our local law enforcement officers, they decided to somehow put me up. They did this for the first time on April 27. Now they are trying to start a new case against me, recently sent a notification from the local police department that they initiated an administrative case against me about the picket on September 7. Almost two months have passed after this picket.

- What exactly are you accused of?

- So far, unfortunately, I do not know. I am invited to come to the police department to draw up a protocol, again this poster causes discontent. They are afraid of anecdotal wording about Hitler's mustache, and I think that they will find fault with something else.

- Have you been the organizer of this action or a participant?

- I was the organizer of the action on September 7, and claims will be made to me, rather, as an organizer, in part 1 of Article 20.2.

- And there were no complaints during the action itself?

- There was no during the action.

- You were fined for this poster for 10 thousand rubles. You filed a complaint, and the case was sent for a review. Was there an examination of this poster?

- Yes. My business was examined for a long time, I was a fine. We appealed to the regional. Due to the fact that there were gross procedural violations, the case was returned back to the district court to another judge. And unfortunately, there was no examination. The fact is that we thought for a long time whether we should order the examination ourselves. Unfortunately, the outcome is predictable, we expect an indictment. If we order an examination, we will have to pay for it from our own funds, and this is quite expensive, we can’t afford it.

Video from the April Protest promotion:

- Yes, oddly enough, there is such a Nizhny Novgorod legal anomaly. I find it difficult to explain this, but this is so - we have a more free atmosphere than even in Moscow. In the spring in anti -war actions - we went to pickets every week - up to 50 people regularly participated. Now the number of participants has slept somewhat, but we regularly collect at least 15 people for our protests. We participated in the march of the world, we went through our column. We looked good.

- You have started problems at work. You have already been fired officially .

- Yes, after the march of the world, as soon as I returned, the next day they began to squeeze me out. But to hint at the fact that I would be good to quit of my own free will, in June. As far as I know, the initiator of this case is the local branch of the FSB, it requires my employers to get rid of me. But before the march of the world, all this was within the framework of light pressure. After my return from the march of the world, I was actually expelled from my permanent workplace, transferred to another job. For about two weeks they tried to force them to leave at their own free will, but when they realized that they would not be able to, they decided to get rid of me to reduce the staff. I am now awarded a notification that on December 15 my position is being reduced, respectively, I am fired.

- What do you intend to do?

- Naturally, I will appeal the decision to dismiss, I hope that I will succeed. Perhaps I will take care of human rights.

- Do your work colleagues relate to this situation?

- Unfortunately, very few people understand me in this position, especially on the Ukrainian problem. But, fortunately, even at work, I have colleagues who share my views that supported me, did not take the side of the leadership in an attempt to squeeze me out, and thanks to them I still work there.

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  Dinara Setdikova

  Information Service editor of the RS