The Kurchatovsky District Court of Chelyabinsk sentenced a 25-year-old local resident to two years probation for “being in solidarity with the ideology of the Ukrainian terrorist organization “Legion “Freedom of Russia”.” This was reported by the security forces-affiliated Telegram channel “NO to Extremism!”
The verdict was handed down on April 24, and it came into force on May 14, according to the card on the court's website. The case was heard in a special order. The woman was found guilty of incitement to extremism (Part 2 of Article 280 of the Criminal Code). It is noted that she repented and fully admitted her guilt. Other details are unknown.
- The Freedom of Russia Legion is a military unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, formed mainly from Russian prisoners of war and volunteers. In March 2023, the Supreme Court of Russia recognized the organization as "terrorist" and banned its activities. Russians are often held administratively liable for the symbols used by the legion, including the white-blue-white flag.
- In March 2023, RAPSI noted that at least 20 criminal cases on links to the legion had been opened in Russia. Such cases are opened under articles on calls for terrorism (Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code) and extremism (Article 280 of the Criminal Code), sabotage (Article 281 of the Criminal Code), treason (Article 275 of the Criminal Code), participation in an armed formation for purposes contrary to the interests of the Russian Federation (Article 208 of the Criminal Code) and cooperation with a foreign state on a confidential basis (Article 275.1 of the Criminal Code).
- Information about these cases is mainly disseminated by security forces. Their messages often talk about tasks allegedly received by the defendants through correspondence on Telegram: arson, distribution of leaflets or transmission of data. Most often, such cases are exclusively about the intention to commit such actions.