Antifa United merch creator faces new charges

Anti-fascist Maxim Vertsinsky, who is being prosecuted for hooliganism in connection with an attack by neo-Nazis, has been charged with a new charge. Vertsinsky himself informed OVD-Info about this.

To date, the creator of the Antifa United merch has been charged under three articles: hooliganism (paragraphs “a”, “b” of part 1 of article 213 of the Criminal Code), robbery committed by a group of persons by prior agreement (part 2 of article 162 of the Criminal Code) and beatings (Article 116 of the Criminal Code).

Vertsinsky was charged under the article on robbery in May, and under the article on beatings - at the end of June.

As the anti-fascist said, new charges were brought against him in the wake of the testimony of his acquaintance, who was present at the attack of neo-Nazis and is a witness in the case of hooliganism. An acquaintance gave new testimony after employees of the Center "E" came to his house with a search.

Vertsinsky also clarified that on June 4, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow extended his house arrest until September 5.

• In January 2020, Vertsinsky and his acquaintance were attacked by neo-Nazis in Moscow. As the anti-fascist himself clarified, a fight broke out, a friend used self-defense means. The police detained and brought to the department several participants in the fight, including Vertsinsky. Law enforcement officers then left the anti-fascist in the department for the night, and the next day he was told that a criminal case had been opened under the article on hooliganism (paragraphs “a”, “b”, part 1 of article 213 of the Criminal Code). The case is being investigated by the SC.
• The anti-fascist himself connects the criminal prosecution with his activist activities. In 2019, he had a conversation with FSB officers in the Rostov region, who asked him about the anti-fascist Telegram channel that he administers. Vertsinsky claims that law enforcement officers advised him not to come into conflict with the Nazis, because among the latter there are people in law enforcement agencies. An anti-fascist group of Vertsinsky's acquaintances is raising funds to pay for a lawyer.