A Kaliningrad resident accused of “discrediting” the army had his preventive measure changed to a pre-trial detention center due to the purchase of wedding rings

The Moskovsky District Court of Kaliningrad changed the measure of restraint from a ban on certain actions to detention in a pre-trial detention center for activist Mikhail Feldman accused of “discrediting” the army (part 1 of Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code), reports SOTAvision. The name of the court was clarified to Mediazona by Feldman’s lawyer Elena Bontsler.

According to SOTAvision, in February the activist approached the city administration building, although he was prohibited from doing so. Security forces recorded Feldman's movements using an electronic bracelet. On March 7, in court, the man said that he bought wedding rings at the Europe shopping center, which is located not far from the Kaliningrad City Hall building. To confirm his words, he provided judge Irina Balashova with checks and a marriage registration certificate.

Lawyer Maria Bontzler, who collaborates with OVD-Info, said that the preventive measure for her client was also tightened due to the fact that on March 7 he left the house at 3:40, although he should be in the apartment until 6:00.

A criminal case for “discrediting” the army against Feldman was opened in May 2023 due to anti-war posts on VKontakte. In 2020, Feldman was sentenced to two months of restriction of freedom in the case of insulting state symbols (Article 329 of the Criminal Code) for publishing on VKontakte with the Russian flag and the inscription “wipe your feet.”

In 2015, Feldman and two other local residents were convicted of hanging a German flag on the building of the local FSB office. The activist received a year and a month in prison and was released in the courtroom. “Mediazona” talked in detail about the activist’s first case.