The FSB filed a petition for the arrest in absentia of Vyacheslav Maltsev

The Federal Security Service filed a petition with the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow for the arrest in absentia of the leader of the Artpodgotovka movement, Vyacheslav Maltsev. This was reported by the SOVA Information and Analytical Center.

On August 15, Maltsev was charged in absentia with calls for extremist activity (Part 1 of Article 280 of the Criminal Code) in connection with his speech at the rally “For Russia against arbitrariness and repression” on May 6, 2017 on Sakharov Avenue in Moscow.

In his speech, he stated that Bolotnaya Square had no chance because it was a peaceful protest. The resolution states that his statements had “criminal intent aimed at inducing rally participants to an armed seizure of power in the Russian Federation.”

In July, it was reported that Maltsev left Russia because of a criminal case brought against him regarding an extremist community (Article 282.1 of the Criminal Code). On July 14, it became known that a case had been opened against him for public calls for extremist activities.