The leader of “Metal Corrosion” was fined one thousand rubles for “demonstration of Nazi symbols”

The Nizhny Novgorod court fined the leader of the “Metal Corrosion” group, Sergei “Spider” Troitsky, one thousand rubles on charges of displaying Nazi symbols (Part 1 of Article 20.3 of the Administrative Code), RIA Novosti reports.

The musician was detained on the evening of April 27 at the local club “Hate”. SOBR soldiers burst into the venue right during the “Metal Corrosion” concert, forcing the audience to lie down on the floor. The director of the group, Maria Runova, said that security forces detained 40 people, and also interrogated the musicians in the dressing room, after which Sergei Troitsky and two guitarists of “Corrosion of Metal” were taken to the police. There, administrative protocols were drawn up against them.

According to Runova, claims against the group arose because of the merch, “which depicts ancient Slavic symbols in the form of various images of the sun with rays bent in a circle.” As stated in court, various goods with prohibited Nazi symbols were sold at the concert - T-shirts, sweatshirts, books. “There are photographic materials in the file where the image of the “Death’s Head” can be seen on the T-shirt, which refers to the insignia of the 3rd SS Panzer Division. The book also depicts SS symbols,” the judge said.

Troitsky did not challenge the court's decision. “I admit my guilt that I did not take care to remove from the environment any artistic objects that could cause the slightest doubt... I had no intention of conducting any kind of propaganda,” said the musician.

In a comment to RIA Novosti, Troitsky said that the group does not promote prohibited symbols, since they do not understand them.

The article on “propaganda or public display of Nazi symbols” is punishable by a fine of up to two thousand rubles or arrest for up to 15 days. The leader of Metal Corrosion received the minimum punishment for it.

Updated . Guitarists of “Metal Corrosion” Daniil Burenkov and Ramil Zeynalov were also fined one thousand rubles each under the article about displaying Nazi symbols, RIA Novosti writes .

• The thrash metal band "Corrosion of Metal" was founded in 1984. Several of the band's songs are included in the federal list of extremist materials. In 2002, a criminal case was opened against the leader of Metal Corrosion, Sergei “Spider” Troitsky, for “inciting national, racial or religious hatred.” The musician was sent for compulsory examination to the Serbsky Institute of Forensic Psychiatry. Later, Troitsky was repeatedly fined for promoting Nazi symbols and singing songs considered extremist.