On January 29, the Bryansk Regional Court approved real sentences for five residents of the Bryansk region under articles about an extremist organization. They were accused of participating in the movement “Union of Slavic Forces of Rus'” (USSR). This was reported by the United Press Service of the Courts of General Jurisdiction of the Bryansk Region.
In appeals, the defense asked to overturn the verdict and acquit all defendants. The convicts noted that they had no relation to the “Union of Slavic Forces of Rus'”, they identified themselves as “citizens of the USSR”, and criminal prosecution in this regard violated their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and belief.
The defendants in the case are four residents of Bryansk and one resident of the Bryansk region. In July, they were sentenced from three years and three months to six years and three months in a general regime colony, and they were taken into custody in the courtroom. The three defendants were also banned from participating in public organizations for three years.
The verdict was handed down by the Sovetsky District Court of Bryansk. Each of the defendants in the case was charged with one or more articles: on organizing, participating in the activities of an extremist organization (Part 1 and Part 2 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code) or on its financing (Part 1 of Article 282.3 of the Criminal Code). They themselves did not admit guilt.
According to the prosecution version, which the court agreed with, the defendants joined an interregional association with the names “Union of Soviet Socialist Republics” and “Union of Slavic Forces of Rus'” (“USSR”) and from December 2019 to March 2021 participated in its activities “for the purpose of changes in the foundations of the constitutional system and violation of the integrity of the Russian Federation.” Bryants allegedly held meetings of the movement, and for money new participants were given “inserts confirming their belonging to the citizenship of the USSR.”
- At the moment, there are several associations in Russia whose members are confident that the Soviet Union is legally still in effect. Fighters for the restoration of the rights of citizens of the USSR believe that the Soviet Union continues to exist, and the Russian Federation is a “trading company.” Some of the participants in such movements refuse any ties with Russia as a state, for example, they do not sign any documents and notify local authorities of the need to vacate their posts.
- In the summer of 2019, the Supreme Court of the Komi Republic recognized the organization “Union of Slavic Forces of Russia” - USSR - as extremist. The court considered that the activities of this association are aimed at forcibly changing the foundations of the constitutional system and violating the integrity of the Russian Federation. of the “Union of Slavic Forces of Russia” in 2018 According to the FSB, 150 thousand people were members , and its branches were opened in 30 regions of the country.