Court fines leader of The Other Russia in Rostov 1500 roubles for disseminating extremist materials

In Novocherkassk, the magistrate judge fined Sergey Cherepovsky, the leader of The Other Russia in Rostov-on-Don, 1500 roubles for disseminating extremist materials and demonstration of Nazi symbols at his personal page on the social network "VKontakte". Sergey Cherepovsky has stated that he did not agree with the verdict of the court and that he intends to challenge it.

The "Caucasian Knot" reported that the Prosecutor's Office appealed to the court and claimed that Sergey Cherepovsky disseminated and demonstrated prohibited materials through the social network. Sergey Cherepovsky himself associates the charges, filed against him, with his political activities.

"I was fined 1000 roubles under Article 20.29 of the Code of Administrative Offences 'Mass dissemination of extremist materials' and 500 roubles under Article 20.3 'Propaganda and public demonstration of Nazi attributes or symbols'. I am going to challenge the decision," Sergey Cherepovsky said. He has added that the court admitted Pavel Nagibin, a legal adviser, an activist of The Other Russia, as a public defender by proxy.

However, according to Sergey Cherepovsky, the court dismissed all other motions. "So, we filed a motion to close the case against me under Article 'Mass dissemination of extremist materials', since the Prosecutor's Office fund at my page the video 'Last Appeal of Promorye Partisans', and the list of the prohibited extremist materials includes the video 'Last Interview of Primorye Partisans'. From its name, it is clear that is not the same video, and, thus, there are no elements of an administrative offense. However, the court dismissed the motion," Sergey Cherepovsky said.

He has also noted that he took the pictures with swastika from other sources. "The one picture was taken from the film 'American History X', and the other picture was in the style of bubble gum 'Love is...', which also had a swastika. I have simply 're-posted' them from another source," the fined oppositionist said.

According to Sergey Cherepovsky, he filed a motion to conduct an examination to consider whether the placement of the pictures at his personal page was propaganda. "However, the judge dismissed the motion," Sergey Cherepovsky has concluded.