A criminal case was opened against the former coordinator of Open Russia for an undesirable organization

The former coordinator of the Open Russia movement in Yekaterinburg, Maxim Vernikov, became a defendant in a criminal case on the activities of an organization recognized as undesirable in Russia (Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code). about this writes Human rights activist Sergei Zykov ; MBH Media confirms this information with reference to the Investigative Committee for the Sverdlovsk Region.

As part of this criminal case, Vernikov was searched, press secretary of the movement Natalia Gryaznevich told OVD-Info. After the search, the man was taken to the Investigative Committee for questioning. A lawyer went with him.

As Gryaznevich notes, Vernikov left the movement some time ago and did not take part in its activities. MBKh Media writes that Vernikov is the editor-in-chief of the Ural MBKh Media bureau.

UPD 13:35 Vernikov was released after interrogation. At the moment, the journalist remains in the status of a suspect. They confiscated his passport and took an obligation to appear.

The criminal case against Vernikov is the second one initiated in Russia under the article on the activities of an organization recognized as undesirable in Russia (Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code). In January 2019, Anastasia Shevchenko became the first defendant in a criminal case under this article.

• In April 2017, the Prosecutor General's Office declared undesirable a number of organizations associated with Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Including the Open Russia Civic Movement. The Russian movement "Open Russia" was not banned.
• After that, administrative protocols were drawn up against the Open Russia activists on charges of carrying out the activities of an undesirable organization (20.33 of the Code of Administrative Offenses). After two such administrative cases, a criminal case may be initiated (Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code).