A criminal case was opened against a resident of Primorsko-Akhtarsk in the Krasnodar Territory, Gennady Vladimirov, for repeated discrediting of the army (Part 1 of Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code), as well as calls for terrorism on the Internet (Part 2 of Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code), extremism (Part 2 Article 280 of the Criminal Code) and anti-state activities (Part 2 of Article 280.4 of the Criminal Code). He himself told OVD-Info about this.
The man is under recognizance not to leave the place.
It is unknown why exactly a case was opened against Vladimirov. According to him, the security forces do not give him documents related to his criminal case.
A case under the 1st part of Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code can be initiated if a person already has at least one decision under a similar administrative article (Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code). In August 2022, Vladimirov was fined 40 thousand rubles under this article. The man was charged with a video in which he burns his military ID and uniform. At that moment he was in the mobilization reserve.
- Since February 24, 2022—the first day of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine—residents of Russian cities have been holding anti-war protests every day and talking about the tragedy online. Anti-war speeches and statements become grounds for criminal prosecution. At the moment, more than 750 people have become defendants in criminal cases initiated due to protest against the war with Ukraine. Read more about this in our infographic .
- After the start of the war in Ukraine, the Russian authorities began to react sharply to protest sentiments. The list of articles under which those who oppose the war are prosecuted is quite wide. Those involved in “anti-war cases” are often charged with hooliganism, vandalism, violence against government officials, and other violations. A significant element of pressure was also the articles introduced into the Criminal Code after the outbreak of hostilities - the spread of “fakes” about the Russian army and discrediting the armed forces.
- Article 280.3 (Public actions aimed at discrediting the armed forces of the Russian Federation) was included in 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. On March 14, 2023, the State Duma adopted amendments increasing the maximum penalty under this article, since then it has been seven years in prison.