EUSPB was fined under the article on participation in the activities of an “unwanted” organization for storing books

On January 25, 2024, Doxa was recognized as an “unwanted organization”.

If you are in Russia or plan to return to it, you can not replace our materials on social networks, refer to them and publish quotes.

Read more about what is possible and impossible, read in the cards .

On December 20, the Dzerzhinsky district court fined p. 3 h. 3 tbsp. 3.1 of the Federal Law of December 28, 2012 No. 272-ФЗ “On measures of influence on persons involved in violations of the fundamental rights and freedoms of a person, rights and freedoms of a citizen of the Russian Federation” European University in St. Petersburg (EUSPB) for storage in the library of eight books published “undesirable” organizations. The university intends to challenge the fine.

The reason for the preparation of protocols was scientific literature, published with the support of the Institute "Open Society" recognized as an “unwanted” organization in 2015 and the Kennan Institute Unit of the International Center for Woodlon Wilson, recognized as “undesirable” in 2022 . Judge Ponomareva supported the arguments of the prosecutor's office and awarded the university a fine of 70 thousand rubles.

The university intends to challenge the court decision, since organizations are not authors of books, and the content of literature is not related to their activities. The publications were published and transferred to the University Library from 2000 to 2009 - long before the adoption of the law on "undesirable" organizations. The website of the European University provides a list of books that served as the reason for the proceedings.

The prosecutor’s office seized books from the university library during the audit in May. Then, the Dzerzhinsky District Court of St. Petersburg received protocols for the European University about participation in the activities of an “unwanted” organization.

What is an “undesirable organization” and what threatens “participation in its activity”?

• The Prosecutor General’s Office may recognize the “undesirable organization” by a foreign legal entity if the agency decides that its activity threatens the “basics of the constitutional system, defense or safety of Russia”.

• Since 2015, such organizations recognized “Open Russia” by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, “Prague Civil Center”, Project, Important Stories, Medusa, The Insider and Bellingcat, New Gazeta Europe, Rain, as well as the Crimean Human Rights Group, Greeenpeace, Free Buryatia Foundation and even more than one hundred legal legal persons.

• The status of "undesicity" provides for liability as "organization" Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, and for "Cooperation" Article 20.33 of the Administrative Code with her.

• What can you? The law does not prohibit set comments, like posts and subscribe to the social networks of “undesirable organizations”.

  And what is impossible? References to materials, quotes, reposts, as well as a demonstration of symbols and participation in measures at the first violation, suggest administrative responsibility. With repeated violation, a criminal case is possible.

  According to the administrative article, you can get off with a fine: for individuals - up to 15 thousand rubles; for officials - up to 50 thousand rubles; For legal entities - up to 100 thousand rubles.

• And what could be very dangerous? Financial support, as well as “calls” to be “unwanted”, imply criminal liability. The maximum punishment under this article is four years of imprisonment , but they can also be sentenced to compulsory work, restriction of freedom or a fine of up to 500 thousand rubles.

• Who is pursued by the criminal article for the “organization” of the “unwanted organization”?

  1. Activist Anastasia Shevchenko was the first in Russia accused under the article on the “implementation of the activities of an unwanted foreign organization” for communication with “open Russia”, she spent two years under house arrest, and after she was sentenced to four years conditionally.
  2. The ex-head of Open Russia Andrei Pivovarov was sentenced to maximum punishment under a criminal article-four years in colony, other cooperations of this organization were also subjected to repression.
  3. Three years of 25 years in prison, oppositionist Vladimir Kara-Murza, are appointed under Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
  4. Co -chair of the Voice movement Grigory Melkonian is in a pre -trial detention center in the case of "Organization" Part 3 of Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code of the “undesirable organization”, more than ten ex-employees of “Voices” have been searches in this case.
  5. The main editor of the publication Kozapress set fire to herself after searches in her house, related to the case of the Nizhny Novgorod businessman and pastafarian Mikhail Ioilievich.