The Investigative Committee sent for examination 61 memes from the page of a student accused of extremism

In Krasnoyarsk, the Investigative Committee sent for examination 61 images from the page on the VKontakte social network of student Alexey Sverdlov. This was reported by the human rights organization Open Russia.

The resolution ordering the examination states that from April 2014 to August 2016, Sverdlov saved 61 pictures on the VKontakte social network, among which there is “an image of the characters of the cartoon “Teletubbies” with a Nazi swastika”, “a photograph of a fist with a raised middle finger against the background of two police officers standing with their backs”, as well as “a photo collage with people standing against the backdrop of the Leaning Tower of Pisa with their right arm extended forward, among whom Adolf Hitler is also placed.” The images have been added to the Saved Photos album.

Also sent for examination was Sverdlov’s commentary in the public page “I live in [In] Krasnoyarsk,” in which he complained about “chocks who earn money here and then sponsor terrorists.”

Alexey Sverdlov is accused of inciting hatred on the grounds of race, nationality, origin, religion, membership in social groups, as well as on grounds of ideology and profession (Article 282 of the Criminal Code).

On October 13, 2017, Alexey Sverdlov received a resolution to initiate a case - then it included only 12 pictures and one comment.

showed Four months earlier, the student was detained by FSB officers. Sverdlov was taken to the secret service department and there they were shown printouts with memes from the MDK and “Eaglet” public pages, saved on the student’s page on the social network. The secret service officers laughed at the jokes and invited Sverdlov to cooperate with them. The student refused.