Taganrog resident Irina Skorovarova was charged in the case of repeated discrediting of the army (Part 1 of Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code). This was reported by her lawyer from OVD-Info, Sergei Kovalevich.
The reason for the criminal prosecution was a video published on the woman’s page in Odnoklassniki. It tells how residents of one of the Russian villages kicked out a Russian military man from there.
On January 11, Skorovarova’s house was searched. An FSB officer called the woman and said that he was standing at the door. According to him, he needed to conduct a search and then deliver her to the Investigative Committee. She replied that she was not at home and would arrive in a couple of hours. The security officer said that he would wait until five o’clock in the evening, and then he would break down the door.
The day before, January 10, an FSB officer wrote to Skorovarova on social networks and asked her to come to give an explanation, without explaining for what reason. On January 12, she was placed under house arrest.
On February 16, 2023, Skorovarov was fined under the article on discrediting the army (Part 1 of Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses) due to posts on Odnoklassniki. The decision was published on the website of the Taganrog City Court and came into force on March 20. On December 7, the same court fined a woman 10 thousand rubles under the article on inciting hatred or enmity (Article 20.3.1 of the Administrative Code) due to publications on social networks about police officers, in which the court found “statements aimed at humiliating the dignity of a social group.” .
- 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 800 people have become defendants in criminal cases initiated due to protest against the war with Ukraine. Read more about this in our infographic .
- 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.