Translated material
In the Samara region, two criminal cases were opened against an alleged participant in “Citizens of the USSR”
On February 15, the Investigative Committee opened a second criminal case against a resident of Novokuibyshevsk, who is suspected of participating in the Citizens of the USSR organization banned in Russia. TASS reports this with reference to the press service of the Investigative Directorate for the Samara Region.
The case was opened under the article on organizing the activities of an extremist organization (Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code). In November 2022, a case was also opened against the woman under the article on inciting hatred or enmity (Part 1 of Article 282 of the Criminal Code) - in December she was charged with committing two crimes under this article.
According to investigators, the woman led the “Citizens of the USSR” cell in Novokuibyshevsk. Under her leadership, in October 2022, a congress of the organization was held in Novokuibyshevsk, at which participants organized a car rally and “produced and distributed materials of an extremist nature.” In addition, from July to November, the woman “repeatedly engaged and recruited new participants” and held video conferences discussing the activities of the extremist organization.
- “Citizens of the USSR” is a movement uniting fighters for the restoration of the rights of citizens of the USSR. Followers of the organization believe that the Union continues to exist, and the Russian Federation is a “trading company.” Some of the participants in “Citizens of the USSR” refuse any ties with Russia as a state, for example, they do not sign any documents and notify local authorities of the need to vacate their posts.
- In August 2022, a court in Samara recognized the Citizens of the USSR movement as an extremist organization. Previously, the list of extremist organizations included the “ People's Council of Citizens of the RSFSR USSR Arkhangelsk Region ” and the “ Union of Slavic Forces of Russia ,” whose followers also denied the fact of the collapse of the USSR.