A blogger from Shuya was charged with vandalism motivated by political hatred

Blogger Sergei Veselov from the city of Shuya in the Ivanovo region was charged with vandalism motivated by political hatred or enmity (Part 2 of Article 214 of the Criminal Code) due to the inscription “No to war” on the city administration building. This was reported by the lawyer representing his interests from OVD-Info, Oscar Cherdzhiev.

The case of vandalism against Veselov in March 2022. Previously, he was accused under the first part of the same article, which does not provide for punishment in the form of imprisonment. Now, for this episode, he faces up to three years in prison.

In the same criminal case, Veselov is charged with four counts of discrediting the Russian army (Part 1 of Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code) because of a video on YouTube. The first of the episodes will be in July 2022, another in September, and another in December. One of the videos, which the investigation considers to violate the law, was called “The water is wet, the grass is green, the sky is blue, they kill in war.” In another, the blogger posted a recording of his speech in court, where his appeal in an administrative case about discrediting the army was being considered (Part 1 of Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code).

charged one two on December 21, 2022, another criminal case was charged against the man - under the article on insulting a judge (Part 2 of Article 297 of the Criminal Code). The reason for the persecution was a video entitled “What’s going on with the judicial system in the Russian Federation” on his YouTube channel. In the video, the man called the judge of the Frunzensky District Court, Nikolai Vergazov, a “patented cretin.” This judge previously imposed a preventive measure on Veselov in the form of a ban on certain actions; the decision was later canceled.

initiated and appointed The charge of vandalism and discrediting the army was presented to Sergei Veselov on March 6 in its final version, Oscar Cherdzhiev clarified. The investigation has ended and the accused will soon begin to familiarize himself with the case materials.

March 13 In addition, on March 7, the Shuisky City Court limited Sergei Veselov’s review period in the case of insulting a judge. The accused will have to study the materials in one day. The blogger was charged in this case on February 8.

Sergei Veselov was detained and forcibly taken to the Shuisky police station to face charges of insulting a judge. Previously, he said, he had not been summoned. However, the arraignment was postponed until April 18, when Veselov could come with his lawyer.

April 12 At the department, the man was fingerprinted. He was detained in Ivanovo, where he got acquainted with the materials of the case about discrediting the army and vandalism.

• At the moment, more than 450 people have become defendants in criminal cases initiated due to protest against the war with Ukraine. Read more about this in our. guide - Article 280.3 (Public actions aimed at discrediting the armed forces of the Russian Federation) into the Criminal Code in March 2022 - in this way the government responded to anti-war speeches and statements, as well as the dissemination of information about the war that does not come from official Russian sources. The maximum penalty under the article is five years in prison. turned on