In Crimea they were arrested under Art. 20.3 Code of Administrative Offenses of a visitor to the reserve who undressed for rangers

A suspicious visitor to the reserve was required to undress, and then punished under Art. 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses for tattoos.

On March 29, 2023, the Alushta City Court of the Republic of Crimea arrested for 15 days under Part 1 of Art. 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (public display of Nazi symbols) by Nikolai Shilkov.

It follows from the court ruling that Shilkov, who was kicked out of the house by his cohabitant, decided to go to the mountains after work, got lost and ended up on the territory of the Crimean Nature Reserve. Near the trout farm, he was stopped by two huntsmen, who received a signal about a suspicious person on the territory. In order for the huntsmen to make sure that he did not have prohibited items, Shilkov took off his backpack and clothes. As a result, the rangers saw tattoos with a swastika stuffed on Shilkov's shoulders and chest.

According to Shilkov, these tattoos were made in places of deprivation of liberty as a sign of a negative attitude towards the administration of the colony, and he did not remove them because of the high cost of the procedure.

From our point of view, to punish under Art. 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses follows those who display Nazi symbols to promote Nazi ideology. Shilkov, however, did not intend to show his tattoos at all, but showed them unintentionally, undressing at the request of the rangers. We also note that the display of any kind of symbolism to just two people should hardly be considered public.

Sources

• Case card on an administrative offense No. 5-87/2023 // Alushta City Court of the Republic of Crimea. 2023. 4 April.