Interpol refused to extradite Russians prosecuted under the article on “fake news” about the Russian army

Interpol refused to fulfill the request to extradite journalists Alexander Nevzorov, Andrei Soldatov, former police officer Oleg Kashintsev and blogger Veronika Belotserkovskaya to Russia. This is what the Agentura project is about.

reports These people are being persecuted under the article on “fake news” about the Russian army (Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code). The request for their extradition was sent by the Prosecutor General's Office and the Investigative Committee.

The documents denying the request explain that Interpol considers the prosecution under the “fake” article to be politically motivated. In addition, in the criminal legislation of the countries where the persecuted are located, there is no similar article of the Criminal Code. OVD-Info lawyers clarify that in this case, countries friendly to Russia can still extradite wanted defendants in the “anti-war case.”

Cases have been filed against all four in Russia for disseminating deliberately false information about the military of the Russian Federation based on hatred (clause “d”, part 2, article 207.3 of the Criminal Code). In addition, they were arrested in absentia and put on the wanted list.

The case is against journalist Alexander Nevzorov due to publications on his YouTube channel and Instagram about the shelling of a maternity hospital in Mariupol.

filed a case against Kashintsev under the same part of the article because of two posts: one of them contained a video recording of the interrogation of a Russian pilot shot down in Ukraine, the other contained a collage of photographs of Vladimir Putin, Adolf Hitler and a red equal sign, accompanied by a signature with criticism of the war in Ukraine and the actions of the Russian President.

filed a case against Belotserkovskaya due to publications on Instagram.

filed a video with his participation on the YouTube channel entitled “FSB generals arrested because of the war” as a reason to initiate a case against the editor-in-chief of the publication Agentura.Ru Andrei Soldatov.

became “Popular Politics” - Since February 24—the first day of the “special operation” in Ukraine—residents of Russian cities have been going out to anti-war rallies every day and talking about the tragedy online. Anti-war speeches and statements become grounds for criminal prosecution. At the moment, more than 360 people have become defendants in criminal cases initiated due to protest against the war with Ukraine. More about this -. in our guide - Article 207.3 to the Criminal Code in March 2022 - this is how the authorities responded to anti-war speeches and statements, as well as the dissemination of information about the war that did not come from official Russian sources. The maximum penalty under this article is 15 years in prison. turned on