Experts did not find “fakes” about the army in the words of Helga Pirogova, which became the reason for the criminal case

Linguistic forensic examination did not reveal any statements about the Russian armed forces in the tweet and interview of Novosibirsk City Council deputy Helga Pirogova. Pirogova herself talks about this on Facebook.

reported The deputy is accused under the article on “fake news” about the Russian army (Part 1 of Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code). In July 2022, a protocol was filed against her under the article of discrediting the army (Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code) due to the funeral of Russian soldiers. However, the very next day, the head of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, ordered that this tweet be checked under the criminal article on “fakes”: the case was done within an hour after the publication of his instructions on the department’s website.

compiled the tweet initiated As Pirogova writes, since then another episode has appeared in the case: an interview with the Dozhd TV channel, in which the deputy spoke about her criminal prosecution. Since the experts could not find information about the Russian army either in the interview or in the tweet itself, the investigator demanded another examination, writes Pirogova. “Given that the case was going to Moscow, I wouldn’t be surprised if they somehow get out of it, I’m just curious to see how,” she sums up.

After the initiation of a criminal case, the girl went to Russia. In early August, the Ministry of Internal Affairs put her on the federal wanted list, and later on. On August 16, 2022, security forces searched four addresses associated with Pirogova and her relatives. Electronic equipment and phones were confiscated from her husband and brother.

left announced interstate carried out - 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 420 people have become defendants in criminal cases initiated due to protest against the war with Ukraine. Read more about this in our. guide