Movement "For Human Rights" speaks in support of Igor Stenin

The Astrakhan Regional Court has received an appeal from the movement "For Human Rights" in support of Igor Stenin, who was sentenced to two years of imprisonment on the charge of public calls for extremism. At the court of first instance, the activist was unable to prove his innocence. This was noted by Lev Ponomaryov, the leader of the movement "For Human Rights".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 16, Igor Stenin, the leader of the movement "Russians of Astrakhan", was sentenced to two years of imprisonment in a penal settlement-colony on the charge of public calls for extremism.

"Igor Stenin was found guilty of publishing in the social network 'VKontakte' a message on the theme of war in Ukraine under the nickname of Ingvar Stefan. He was also accused of a comment posted by another user, mistakenly treated by investigators as a repost," reports the website of the Information Analytical Centre "Sova".

According to experts, the record, which appeared in the case and which was interpreted by the investigators as a direct call for violence against members of a particular social group, was a "collective image", which was used by discontented citizens with regard to the authorities.

The experts of the Information Analytical Centre "Sova" believe that it is advisable not to resort to criminal prosecution even for the most harsh statements, if they do not "contain components of crime voiced in the most clear and unequivocal manner."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.