The court upheld the fine of the former head of the diabetes society under the article on “foreign agents”

The Saratov Regional Court dismissed the complaints of the Saratov Regional Public Organization of Disabled People with Diabetes and its ex-president Yekaterina Rogatkina, who were fined under the article about “foreign agents”. It is reported by Radio Liberty.

The prosecutor's office considered that there were signs of political activity in the work of the organization, including criticism of the quality of Russian insulin as such. In addition, the organization received money from affiliates of foreign pharmaceutical companies.

The Saratov regional organization of the disabled said they intended to appeal the verdict up to the Supreme Court.

• In June, the Frunzensky District Court of Saratov fined Ekaterina Rogatkina, ex-president of the diabetic society, 50,000 rubles. The court considered that Rogatkina violated the rules for the activities of NGOs performing the functions of a “foreign agent” (part 1 of article 19.34 of the Code of Administrative Offenses).
• On May 28, the court recognized the Saratov Regional Public Organization of Disabled People with Diabetes as a foreign agent and fined it 300,000 rubles.

According to political science expertise, writes MBKh Media , the organization was considered a foreign agent because it was engaged in political activities. A significant part of the expertise consists of quotes from officials who criticize patient organizations "lured by Western pharmaceutical companies." * The prosecutor's office began the investigation after the appeal of the head of the university headquarters for supporting Vladimir Putin, Nikita Smirnov. The student considered that the NPO was transferring personal data of patients to foreign pharmaceutical companies.