The Sova Center presented two annual reports

On February 28, 2018, in Moscow, in the hall of the International Memorial, the Information and Analytical Center "Sova" held a presentation of the annual reports "Counteraction or Imitation: The State against the Incitement of Hatred and Political Activity of Nationalists in Russia in 2017" and "Unlawful Application of Anti-Extremist Legislation in Russia in 2017".

The event was hosted by the director of the Sova center, Alexander Verkhovsky.

The first report was presented by its author Natalia Yudina. According to the findings of the study, the number of criminal sentences for public "extremist statements" (incitement to hatred, calls for extremist or terrorist actions, etc.) and the number of administrative decisions under anti-extremist articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses increased last year. As usual, the objects of law enforcement were mostly grassroots nationalist activists and ordinary republishers of xenophobic statements on social networks. However, in 2017, Dmitry Bobrov, Nikolai Bondarik, Yuri Yekishev and Dmitry Demushkin, who remained at large for an inexplicably long time, were convicted. The level of evidence in the charges in the relevant cases varied greatly. In general, criminal penalties for public statements have become stricter. Prosecutor's offices are gradually moving away from the practice of judicial injunctions and increasingly resorting to extrajudicial blocking. As a result, the fight against extremism is taking the path of restricting freedom of speech.

Next, Maria Kravchenko presented her report on the unlawful application of anti-extremist legislation. The results of our monitoring of abuses in law enforcement in 2017 indicate increased pressure on religious groups that the authorities classify as "non-traditional for Russia." This is evidenced, in particular, by the ban on the activities of Jehovah's Witnesses communities, the criminal case against the Church of Scientology of St. Petersburg, the increase in the number of sentences for the continuation of the activities of banned organizations by followers of the Muslim movement "Tablighi Jmaat," and the ongoing repressions against members of the religious party "Hizb ut-Tahrir." The authorities continue to monitor the activity of Russian users on the Internet, often persecuting citizens for statements that do not pose any real public danger. The statistics of prosecution for the dissemination of extremist materials, including many that are groundlessly banned, and the display of Nazi symbols and symbols of banned organizations, regardless of whether such displays are aimed at promoting the relevant ideology, are growing especially rapidly. The report highlights new laws and legislative initiatives introduced in 2017 aimed at tightening measures to combat extremism and expanding online censorship.

The presentation included statistics on countering “extremist activity,” including data on the unlawful application of anti-extremist legislation.

The text of the report on countering the incitement of hatred and political activity was published on the website of the Dozhd TV channel and on the website of the Sova Center , and the report on illegal anti-extremism was published on the Mediazona portal and on the website of the Sova Center .

Sources

• Reviews in the media:
• Borzunova Maria. "Sova": the number of sentences for extremist statements has increased in Russia // TV channel "Dozhd". 2018. February 28.
• Ideological differences are now resolved with fists // Nezavisimaya Gazeta. 2018. February 28.
• In Russia, people are being jailed more often for reposts // Lenta.ru. 2018. February 28.
• Sova Center: Those Who Used to Hate Caucasians Now Hate the West // Radio Liberty. 2018. February 28.
• A tablet was identified as a weapon of crime // Kommersant. 2018. February 28.
• The number of sentences for reposting extremist statements has increased in Russia // Klops. 2018. February 28.
• The authorities are stepping up the fight against oppositionists and “revolutionaries” // Vedomosti. 2018. February 28.
• The number of sentences for extremist statements has increased in Russia // The village. 2018. February 28.
• In Russia, people are being jailed more often for reposting “extremist” materials // Obshchaya Gazeta. 2018. February 28.
• A dangerous trend... In Russia, the number of people convicted of inciting “hatred or enmity” and insulting the feelings of believers is increasing // Vedomosti Ural. 2018. February 28.
• "Sova": People are being jailed more often in Russia for reposts // Telegraf. 2018. February 28.
• REPOST IS THE QUEEN OF EVIDENCE // The New Times. 2018. February 28.
• Sova Center: 96 percent of “anti-extremist” sentences were handed down for posts on the Internet // Roskomsvoboda. 2018. February 28.
• THE NUMBER OF VERDICTS FOR EXTREMIST STATEMENTS HAS INCREASED IN RUSSIA // Govorit Petrozavodsk. 2018. March 1.
• The Sova Analytical Center included the case of Bashkir activist Sagit Ismagilov in its report // Ekho Moskvy. Ufa. 2018. March 1.
• Alena Agafonova. What’s wrong with anti-extremist legislation: the Sova analytical center on the results of 2017 // Takie Dela. 2018. March 1.
• Pavel Skrylnikov. The fight for tolerance does not need the priests of Themis // Nezavisimaya Gazeta. 2018. March 7.