Libertarian fined for comic with swastika

Najib Hasanov brought to justice under Art. 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses.

August 28, 2020 Nizhnevartovsk City Court of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug under Part 1 of Art. 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (public display of Nazi symbols) fined Najib Hasanov, secretary of the local branch of the Libertarian Party of Russia, one thousand rubles.

The reason for the administrative prosecution was the publication of Gasanov in VKontakte. In 2014, he published a picture from the CountryBalls comic book series, which play on international relations and historical plots. Among the characters of this comic there is also "Nazi Germany", traditionally depicted with a swastika.

From our point of view, Hasanov was wrongfully punished, since we believe that to prosecute under Art. 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses for the use of Nazi symbols follows only in cases when it comes to Nazi propaganda. Obviously, satirical comics, in which the Nazi regime plays the role of a negative character, do not set themselves such a task. Note also that this case once again shows: recently added to Art. 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses , the note that in the event of the formation of a negative attitude towards Nazism, one should not be punished for demonstrating prohibited symbols, unfortunately, it is unable to prevent all cases of unlawful persecution.

Sources

• A resident of Nizhnevartovsk was convicted for a meme with a swastika in social networks. According to him, the court relied on false data. // 7x7. 2020. September 7th.
• Case card No. 5-4404/2020 // Nizhnevartovsk City Court of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug. 2020. August 28.