Articles

«Shut up and stay quiet». This elderly Russian was fined for complimenting Zelensky

At the end of April, a Moscow court fined a 70-year-old pensioner Olga 40 thousand rubles (US$ 517) under Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences for discrediting the military. The reason was three reports of her having complimented the appearance of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky during a conversation in a sanatorium.

«I want to show you that you don’t have to be silent» — Kazan resident speaks out against cyberbullying and police pressure due to her anti-war stance

In late January, Kazan resident Gulia Mukhametzyanova was charged with «discrediting» the Russian army. Since then, she has been monitored by security forces who contacted her from different numbers, sent telegrams, and warned her of problems if she didn’t appear in court. On April 14, Gulia was fined 30,000 rubles (US$385). She believes the surveillance was triggered by her photo with an anti-war poster published in a local group.

John Lennon, the Holy Martyr Alexander Schmorell and others in Constitutional Court. Cancel the article punishing «discrediting» the Russian army.

At least 6,561 cases under the administrative article on «discrediting» the Russian army and authorities have been initiated since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This article became an element of military censorship and is actively used against dissenters, even though freedom of speech is enshrined in the Constitution. This is unacceptable — we seek to abolish Article 20.3.3 of the CAO in the Constitutional Court.

«Blessed are the peacemakers». What Christian religious leaders face when speaking out against the war

Protestant preacher Eduard Charov was fined 65,000 rubles (roughly $800) for anti-war posts on social media and criticizing the state. We discuss how Russian authorities persecute Orthodox clerics and Christian leaders of other denominations if they disagree with the official position on the war in Ukraine broadcast by the Russian Orthodox Church and the government.

«This Is not Christ-like at all»: meet the father of four from Buryatia who opposes the war

In February Evgeny Vlasov, a father of four, was fined 30,000 rubles (US$368) by a court in Buryatia. He was charged with «discrediting» the Russian army (Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences) for posts on Vkontakte, a Russian social network. There are many mistakes in the offence report: for example, it is not stated which publications were seen as grounds for prosecution. We are publishing his story.

Articles Свобода слова «Life feels surreal these days.» A woman fined for a cafe argument about Ukraine

On April 5, a Moscow resident, Irina (name changed at her request), was fined 30,000 rubles (US$365) under an article about «discrediting» the Russian army. A week earlier, a protocol was drawn up against her after she had got into an argument in a coffee shop with a man who was disparaging Ukrainians. He recorded a part of the conversation on his phone, and then proceeded to call the police.

«An undesirable person.» This factory mechanic was fired for protesting against the war

Vladimir Kiselyov is from Nizhny Novgorod, an old city in western Russia. Vladimir worked at the local Sokol aircraft plant, traveled the world, and occasionally attended rallies. Then coworkers reported Vladimir for tearing off posters calling for donations to the Russian military. We publish Vladimir’s story about what has happened to him. 

«And only Allah will help us in this.» Convict in Russia’s crackdown on Crimean Tatars dies in pre-trial detention

On 10 February, Dzhemil Gafarov, a 60-year-old resident of Crimea convicted in the Hizb ut-Tahrir case, died in a pre-trial detention center in the Rostov Region. The prisoner had a Group II disability due to chronic kidney disease and related heart disease. In January he was sentenced to 13 years. Here is an insight into how the Russian authorities persecute Crimean Tatars.

The Moskalevs’ story

Masha Moskaleva, a 13-year-old girl, has been thrown into a «rehab centre», her dad — beaten and put on house arrest, and their family savings — stolen. All this for drawing an anti-war painting in her art class

The Moskalevs are from Yefremov, a small town in Russia. Alexei Moskalev, Masha’s dad, is a single father. He owns a business selling pet birds. Both him and his daughter oppose the invasion of Ukraine.

«Z — for Russia»: Moscow authorities raid hip pubs and a cultural centre

On Friday, 17th of March, Moscow pubs, Underdog and La Virgen, were raided by the special forces equipped with, а sledgehammer, tasers, and K-9. Official reason for the raid was to check whether the pubs are «sponsoring the Ukrainian Army». At least 40 patrons and staff were detained. Two days later, police disrupted a launch of a book written by current political prisoner Sasha Skochilenko, that was taking place in the «Open Space».

Wasn’t caught but will be judged: anti-war activists put on trial in absentia

Russian citizens who fled the country and openly oppose the war in Ukraine are now tried in absentia for «spreading fakes about the armed forces» (207.3 of the Criminal Code). Sentences have been passed for instagrammer Veronika Belotserkovskaya, former police officer Oleg Kashintsev, and former TV broadcaster Alexander Nevzorov. We are offering an insight into what a trial with no defendant looks like.

The father — to jail, his daughter — orphanage

Alexei Moskalyov is a single dad for his 12-year-old daughter Masha. One day in an art class Masha drew a picture of Russian and Ukrainian flags together with signs «No To War» and «Glory to Ukraine». In retaliation, Masha was interrogated and taken to an orphanage, her father — beaten and detained, and the family’s cash savings — stolen.

This exiled eco-activist spoke out against the war. Then his house was burned down

In early December, eco-activist Andrei Panyushkin reported the arson of his house in the Krasnodar region, in south-european Russia. He linked this to his anti-war posts on social media. The official cause of the fire has not yet been established, and Panyushkin hasn’t received any replies to his appeals to the police and the prosecutor’s office as well. OVD-Info publishes his monologue about the incident.

A Russian man got fined for a dream about Zelenskyy

In the western Russian city of Chita, a 26-year-old sauna owner Ivan Losev got a court fine in the amount of 30 thousand rubles (US$ 437). He was charged with discrediting the Russian army (article 20.3.3. of the Russian Code on Administrative Offences) for posting several stories on Instagram — in particular, for retelling his dream about the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyyy. OVD-Info is publishing Ivan’s story.

«Between ‘Disgusting’ and ‘Scary’» — an old dissident’s life in a letter from a detention centre

On December 22, a court in Vologda sentenced Vladimir Rumyantsev to 3 years in a general regime penal colony for spreading «fakes» about the Russian army. The 61-year-old boiler furnace operator and radio enthusiast was accused of spreading deliberately false information on his social media and via his personal radio. He spent more than 5 months in the pre-trial detention centre.

Eight to one. More than 500 «discrediting the armed forces» cases have been dismissed by court or returned to the police

Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code on discrediting the armed forces, introduced in March of 2022, is a popular tool in fighting those protesting against the war. But experience has shown that judges often side with the citizens accused of violating it. We try to explain why that might be.

Putin-antichrist and a sermon of unjust victory: why a priest from the Sverdlovsk region was fined 100,000 rubles

A court of Verkhoturye ruled Evgeniy Pinchuk aka Nikandr (a priest of Russian Orthodox church abroad) to pay a fine of 100,000 rubles for a repeated discreditation of the Russian army (part 1, article 280.3 of the criminal code) last October. The reason for the prosecution is Pinchuk’s post on the VK social network, where he called the actions of the Russian army an occupation. OVD-info publishes the priest’s story.

Please take me back to 2017. Investigation of OVD-Info on putting pressure on independent municipal deputies by the Moscow authorities

Different types of elections that took place in September 2022 in Russia were far from becoming the main topic on the Russian social agenda — war in Ukraine, conscription, and referendums on the accession of the new territories were of much greater concern. Therefore, using the example of Moscow municipalities, we resolved to analyze the state’s reaction to the opposition within the government agencies.

«At times there are moments when silence is not acceptable». Interview with Alexei Gorinov

Moscow municipal deputy Alexei Gorinov was sentenced to six years and 11 months in prison for the anti-war statement he made during a council meeting. Gorinov proposed to suspend district holidays while children are dying in Ukraine. At the request of OVD-Info journalist Ilya Azar entered into correspondence with Alexei, what follows is the conversation between two former municipal deputies.

Blue dress and yellow flowers: The story of how the activist Arshak Makichyan spoke out against the war and was deprived of his citizenship

Arshak Makichyan is the organizer of the Russian climate movement Fridays for Future and has spoken at the UN together with Greta Thunberg. After the start of the war with Ukraine, he publicly announced his anti-war stance and, fearing arrest, left Russia. At the end of October, the Shatursky City Court of the Moscow Region stripped Arshak and his family of their Russian citizenship, which had been their only citizenship.

Saint Javelina: How a fifth-grader and her mother were detained for a profile picture with the Ukrainian flag and chat messages

On October 5 in Nekrasovka district of Moscow, police took Varya, a fifth-grader, to a police station. Her mother Yelena was also brought there with her. The reason for the detention of the girl was a letter from the school principal, who complained about the girl’s profile picture featuring a Ukrainian flag on a social network, as well as her skipping propaganda lessons. We publish the mother’s story about what happened.

«The happiest man in prison». The story of a Danish citizen who served time in Russia for his involvement with Jehovah’s Witnesses

On May 25, a Danish citizen Dennis Christensen was released after five years behind bars. In 2019, after two years spent in a pre-trial detention center, the court sentenced him to six years of imprisonment under the Article 282.2 Section 1 on «Organizing the activity of an extremist organization». OVD-Info tells his story.

Call-up papers misdirected. Those detained at protests are served call-up orders to report to military draft centers, but not to the correct ones

After the mobilization was announced, protests erupted in dozens of Russian cities. According to our data, between September 21 and 24, 2 402 people were detained. In many police stations in Moscow and in some police stations in the regions, policemen served call-up papers to detained men; in some known cases those call-up papers were not directing them to the correct draft centers where these men were registered.

«No other language but the language of pain». A monologue of a man from Moscow oblast, who was tortured because his brother is an anarchist

Anarchist Ivan Ivko left Russia in July due to the risk of criminal prosecution. Later in August his brother Pyotr was sentenced for 3 days of arrest by the court in Moscow. After the court session Pyotr was brought to the police station, where he was tortured with electricity. He was demanded to tell everything he knew about his brother’s whereabouts.

Brilliant green for «traitors». Since February 24, protesters have faced attacks and threats more often

Since February 24, Russians protesting against the war have faced not only arrests, criminal proceedings, and dismissals, but also non-state pressure. Unknown people paint their apartment doors with the letters Z and V, splash them with brilliant green, and send them threats on social networks. We explain with examples and figures what this expanding trend is.

Rough arrests and call-up papers: anti-mobilisation rallies on 21 September

On 21 September, after a long break, mass anti-war rallies broke out across Russia once again. They were triggered by the announcement of mobilisation. Arrests have taken place in 39 cities; at least 1,310 people have been detained. The police were violent; in several cities, journalists were detained.

«Monk calls for disobedience»: The Life Story of Father Ioann Kurmoyarov

A former priest of the Russian Orthodox Church, Ioann (Dmitry) Kurmoyarov, arrested in June for spreading ‘fakes’ about the Russian army, remains in the Kresty pre-trial detention facility. On July 20 the court refused to commute the preventive measure, although the defence insisted that Father Ioann had no intention to hide from the investigation. OVD-Info tells his story — from the words of his brother, Alexander Kurmoyarov.

Yellow-blue smoke over Moscow. How Danila Tkachenko’s performance failed and his friend went to jail

The World Press Photo laureate Danila Tkachenko had been planning an anti-war protest on Victory Day. However, the act was thwarted by law enforcement officers. Later, they arrested the artist’s friend, Grigory Mumrikov, who was considered his partner in crime. Tkachenko insists he had been preparing the protest alone. He has left Russia. Meanwhile, Mumrikov faces the prospect of five years in prison.

The Prosecutor’s Office Demands Liquidation of the Journalists' and Media Workers' Union. Here’s Why

A queue of picketers next to the Moscow police department building in support of Meduza’s detained correspondent Ivan Golunov and the first discussions of harassment among media employees — behind all this is a trans-regional non-governmental organization called Journalists' and Media Workers' Union. Here is what we know about the lawsuit of the Moscow Prosecutor’s Office against the union and why they want it liquidated.

The State Duma adopted a new law on «foreign agents». What will change?

The State Duma adopted the bill «On control over the activities of persons being under foreign influence» in the third reading. It contains all the norms related to the activities of people and organizations recognized as «foreign agents». The adopted amendments should enter into force on December 1, 2022. We explain what will change in the law on activities of «foreign agents» after these amendments.

«No to the war in Ukraine!» and «GruZ (Cargo) 200»: how people are persecuted for anti-war stickers and flyers in Russia

Russian troops’ invasion of Ukraine on February 24th set off a wave of protests all over Russia. People were going to anti-war protests, distributed anti-war flyers, put car stickers denouncing Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, and left anti-war slogans in houses' hallways. The policemen started persecuting activists for anti-war agitation: fining them and even criminally prosecuting them.

Told on by their pupils and persecuted for signing petitions: the pressure teachers face due to their anti-war stance

The invasion of Ukraine by the Russian military on February 24 sparked a wave of protests across Russia. Virtually everyone who disagreed with the official government position became a target for repression. School teachers and university professors, among others, were persecuted more frequently than before. Their anti-war statements were reported to the authorities and led to fines, dismissals, and even criminal cases against them.

The story of a girl attacked by her own mother after police coming to her house

Although mass anti-war protests in Russia have stopped, people still can be detained for anti-war statements. Maria from Novosibirsk has been suspected of distributing posts containing the «Peace to the World» inscription. At first, she had an unidentified call from a man who introduced himself as a district police officer, then she had an argument with her mom who tried to hand her over to the police.

An informal ban. How people are getting fired for their anti-war stance and how they fight for their rights

After the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, protests took place all over Russia, many people began to speak out on social media against the war. Some of them faced pressure at work: some were forced to quit, some were put under unbearable working conditions. We are telling how people defend their right to work and to their political stance.

«Horror and insanity»: apprehensions, seven days of arrest and three records for «bloody» dresses

On the 29th of May, in Moscow, activists Lyudmila Annenkova and Natalia Perova took a photo in white dresses smeared with red blood-like paint in front of the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both were arrested for seven days on charges of alleged disobedience to the police and fined under the articles on «discrediting» the Russian army and violating regulations for mass events. Here is Lyudmila’s account of the events.

New «Foreign Agents» Law. What will change?

On April 25, a group of deputies submitted to the State Duma a draft of a new law «On control over the activities of persons under foreign influence.» It will contain regulations relating to the activities of people and organizations recognized as «foreign agents». Lawyers of the Center for the Protection of Media Rights analyzed the bill. This article explains how the legislation on «foreign agents» will change if the law is passed.

«I tell him: ‘It’s a bird’. And he quotes Sergei Bodrov Jr. to me» How people are detained for anti-war statements and what this means for Russian law

Ten days after the war with Ukraine started, a new administrative law article on the «discrediting» of the use of armed forces came into force in Russia. Those who disagree with the war and express their anti-war position are massively persecuted. At the time of OVD-Info publication, 1258 such cases are known. In this article, we describe how this new law is being used and why it can be imputed in the most unpredictable cases.

«Knowingly false.» It has been three months since the law on «fakes» about the Russian army came into force. How and against whom is it used?

According to OVD-Info data, the three months of the enforcement of the law on «fakes» about the Russian army have resulted in at least 59 criminal cases and two sentences in different regions of Russia. Reposts on social media, anti-war flyers and even phone conversations can be considered «fakes». OVD-Info analysed how Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code works in practice.

Enemies of the state. How the institution of «denunciations» returns to Russia

In the context of anti-war activities, the word «denunciation» is appearing in the news with increasing frequency. At first, a website to collect information about «saboteurs» was created by the Just Russia Party, then bots for denunciations sprang up in many regions, and then neighbors started informing on those who were hanging anti-war symbols in their windows.

Called in for Questioning, Apartments Searched, and Demands to Unlock Smartphones: In Moscow, Police and FSB Check Ukrainian Citizens

The MVD and FSB received orders to carefully scrutinize all Ukrainian citizens living in Moscow. OVD-Info has spoken to two independent Ukrainian sources who confirmed this. Еhe law enforcement agents themselves didn’t seem to know what they were supposed to be doing with the Ukrainians. Some were offered Russian citizenship through a fast-track procedure, others had criminal charges for petty hooliganism fabricated against them.

Day 18 of War and Protest: Detention on March 13th

On March 13th in 38 cities across Russia, more than 900 people were detained in anti-war demonstrations. Since the start of the war with Ukraine, nearly 15,000 people have been detained for their opposition to Russian aggression. The security services are not only throwing people into police vans for protesting, but are now trying to find «disloyal people» amongst passersby in places where anti-war protests have been announced.

Cracked Heads and Tasers: Results of the March 6th Anti-War Protests

On March 6th in 69 cities across Russia, around 5,000 participants in anti-war protests were detained. In total, 13,000 people have been detained in over 140 cities since the beginning of protests against the war in Ukraine. OVD-Info provides the main takeaways from the anti-war protests on March 6th. There were many instances of excessive use of force–police violently arrested people, beat them with batons, and used tasers.

Detentions across the country: the results of protests against the war with Ukraine on February 24-27

On the morning of February 24, the Russian army attacked Ukraine. On the first day of the war, residents of dozens of Russian cities took part in anti-war protests, which have been going on for four days. We inform you about the latest events.

Almost 2,000 Russians arrested on the first day of anti-war protests

On February 24, protests against Russia’s military operations in Ukraine were held in at least 59 cities all over Russia. At the time of publication, over 1,800 people had been arrested across the country that day. In many cities protesters were held at police stations overnight and force was used against them. At least one criminal case was opened. OVD-Info shares the highlights from the first day of anti-war protests.