Leader of The Other Russia in Rostov-on-Don accused of disseminating extremist materials

On October 17, Sergey Cherepovsky, the leader of The Other Russia in Rostov-on-Don, is to face trial on charges of disseminating extremist materials and demonstration of Nazi symbols. According to prosecutors, the oppositionist disseminated and demonstrated prohibited materials through a social network. Sergey Cherepovsky himself associates the charges against him with his political activities.

In this September, the charges under Article 20.3 and Article 20.29 of the Administrative Code "Propaganda and public demonstration of Nazi attributes or symbols or attributes or symbols, similar to Nazi attributes and symbols to extent of confusion" and "Mass dissemination of extremist materials included in published federal list of extremist materials" were filed against Sergey Cherepovsky for fragments of the film "American History X" and "Last appeal of Primorye Partisans", which were posted on his page at the social network "VKontakte".

The Article 20.3 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation implies imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of 500-1000 roubles with confiscation of Nazi or other specified attributes or symbols or an administrative arrest for a term of up to 15 days with confiscation of Nazi or other specified attributes or symbols.

The Article 20.29 of the above Code implies imposition of an administrative fine on citizens in the amount of 100-3000 roubles or an administrative arrest for a term of up to 15 days with confiscation of specified materials and equipment used to produce them.

"On September 14, I was called from the Criminal Investigatory Department and was invited to come for a conversation to the Prosecutor's Office of Novocherkassk. The staff members, who called me, have got a negative answer to that offer, since such calls are not official, because they were made without proper summon, indicating the official reason," the oppositionist told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to him, on September 21, near the house of his wife, he was stopped by unidentified people in civilian clothes. "They forced me into a car against my will and gave me summon to come the Prosecutor's Office of Novocherkassk, and then they 'agreed to bring' me there. At the Prosecutor's Office, I was charged under two Articles. Representatives of the law referred to the source of the social network" VKontakte ", where I had posted at my page a video that was at the free access and symbols, 'similar to that of Nazi and the prohibited National Bolshevik Party'," Sergey Cherepovsky says.

He has added that the symbols were represented by an extract from the film "American History X".

"This is an American film, which was shot in 1998 and which received a high response from critics and huge box-office takings. Among the advantages of the film, the critics noted the talented actor playing of Edward Norton in the starring role, for which he was nominated for several film awards, including Oscar nomination. The very film was honoured with thirteen nominations. According to the Empire magazine, the film occupies the 311th place in the list of "500 Greatest Movies of All Time", and it is included in the list of 250 best movies, compiled by the 'IMDb'. Besides, the film 'American History X' is very popular in the domestic cinemas," the oppositionist said.

According to Sergey Cherepovsky, the charges against him represent a targeted persecution by political motives.

"I have repeatedly been subjected to administrative arrests, including at rallies of December 4 (2011) and March 31. Besides, after the incident with the killed policemen in Novocherkassk, I was visited by officers from the UVD (Interior Department), who asked me to give clarifications on that issue, clearly alluding to my involvement in that case. I treat that as harassment of opposition. Pluralism, on which they say on TV, is on its screen, and it does not go beyond empty rhetoric of the authorities," Sergey Cherepovsky notes.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent failed to receive comments of the Prosecutor's Office of Novocherkassk. However, the resolution on the initiation of the case on administrative offence, signed by A.Yu. Trofimov, Deputy Prosecutor of Novocherkassk, states that "when asked, whether Sergey Cherepovsky posted the specified video and other materials of extremist nature on his page on the social network 'VKontakte', he refused to answer."

According to the document, the guilt of Sergey Cherepovsky "is confirmed by the act of examination of the website on the Internet" and by explanations of Sergey Cherepovsky that the page in the social network 'VKontakte' really belongs to him."

It should be noted that the video "Last interview of Primorye Partisans", posted in the international Internet community on the website of the social network www.vkontakte.ru, was put on the federal list of extremist materials under No. 1178 in accordance with the decision of the Kanavino District Court of the city of Nizhny Novgorod of March 07, 2012.

As far as the film "American History X" is concerned, it is an American drama film about neo-Nazis of 1990s, and the National Bolshevik Party was prohibited in 2007 by the decision of the court as an extremist organization.