On January 25, the Severomorsky District Court of the Murmansk Region received the case of Alexander Mendrik under the article on the dissemination of “fakes” about the Russian army (Part 1 of Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code). Information about this is published on the court's website.
For what reason the case was opened, when it was opened and what preventive measure the defendant is under are still unknown.
- 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 207.3 (Public dissemination of knowingly false information about the use of the armed forces of the Russian Federation) was included in the Criminal Code in March 2022 - in this way the authorities 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 this article is 15 years in prison.