A flash mob “I\/We Ignat” began on social networks in defense of veteran Ignat Artemenko, who became a victim in the case against Navalny

The action was organized with the participation of the Kremlin

On February 14, a flash mob began in social networks in support of veteran Ignat Artemenko, who is a victim in a libel case against Alexei Navalny. Flashmob participants post a photo of Artemenko with the inscription "I/We Ignat" and the tags #defendveterans and #yamyignatartemenko.

Posts are placed, among other things, by regional administrations in the regions of Russia and local officials, drew the Dozhd TV channel attention. In addition, such publications are actively posted by media owned by regional authorities, as well as local branches of United Russia and the All-Russian People's Front movement, noted . Fontanka

At the time of the publication of this material, the number of posts with such tags on Instagram exceeded 700. Approximately the same number appeared on VKontakte.

One of the first post with such tags was published by the former actress of the TV show "Ural dumplings" Yulia Mikhalkova. She stated that some users of social networks "are trying to justify someone else's rudeness, slander and helpless hysteria against the veteran of the Great Patriotic War Ignat Sergeevich Artemenko."

A source in the leadership of a branch of the United Russia party in one of the regions of the Central Federal District told Meduza about the order issued by the Russian presidential administration: deputies from the party in power must post posts in support of Ignat Artemenko on their social media accounts. According to the source, the emphasis should be on "protecting veterans." Such posts should be posted by state and municipal media, authorities, pro-government public figures.

In addition, United Russia members in the central part of Russia, where heavy snowfalls are falling, should go out into the yards on February 14 and help veterans or pensioners with snow removal. These actions need to be filmed or photographed - and also posted on social networks.

The source emphasized that the flash mob was not directly related to the fact that on February 14 a mass rally in defense of Alexei Navalny was taking place in Russia. The flash mob is aimed at discrediting Navalny in general, he explained.

Pyotr Lokhov with the participation of Andrey Pertsev