Inciting hatred towards homo soveticus?

With regard to the Kazan sociologist Iskander Yasaveev, a protocol was drawn up under Art. 20.3.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses.

On January 30, 2023, it became known that a protocol under Art. 20.3.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (inciting hatred or enmity, as well as humiliation of human dignity). The reason for the persecution was his column “Tomboyish or Soviet: Why is Russia at War?”, published by Idel.Realii on June 19, 2022.

On his Facebook page, Yasaveev publishes an excerpt from the decision to initiate a case: “According to the conclusion of the specialist of Naberezhnye Chelny State University on linguistic research dated December 26, 2022, the submitted text contains linguistic signs of incitement to violent actions against a social group on the basis of belonging to nationality, the text contains linguistic signs of humiliation of human dignity on the basis of social (professional) affiliation, the text contains linguistic signs of inciting hostility, hatred towards a group of persons distinguished by social characteristics.

We got acquainted with the text of Yasaveev and did not find any signs of incitement to hatred and, moreover, incitement to violence in it. The author argues that drawing parallels between the actions of the Russian leadership and members of street gangs in the USSR is incorrect, since the current state of affairs in the country and the armed actions in Ukraine indicate that the Russian authorities are characterized by attitudes characteristic of the so-called "Soviet man": the idea that the country is in the “ring of enemies”, and for the sake of the greatness of the state it is permissible to sacrifice people. To get rid of the “soviet man”, aggressive and helplessly patient, submissive and cunning, constantly building hierarchies”, according to Yasaveev, not only a change of power is needed, but also decades of democratization and educational work.

In our opinion, neither criticism of the authorities, nor social criticism, including criticism of the attitudes and views inherent in citizens, give grounds for prosecution for inciting hatred, enmity, humiliation, especially in this case, when it is expressed in the correct form. We also believe that the authorities do not form a vulnerable social group that needs special protection from manifestations of hatred (moreover, Sova advocates the exclusion of the vague concept of “social group” from anti-extremist legislation). Recall that the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation pointed out back in 2011 that criticism in the media of officials should not in itself be considered as an act aimed at humiliating dignity, since the limits of permissible criticism of officials are wider than those of individuals; from our point of view, this argument applies not only to publications in the media. We also note that it is not at all clear which statements of Yasaveev the linguists regarded as inciting violence on the basis of belonging to a nationality and social group - is it really an offer to the reader to get rid of homo soveticus in himself? If so, then a new word has definitely been said in the field of linguistic expertise in Russia.

Sources

• According to social media.
• Iskander Yasaveev. Boyish or Soviet: why is Russia fighting? // Idel.Reality. 2023. January 30.