Volgograd oppositional activist fined for discrediting army

Ruslan Nurushev has been fined by 40,000 roubles for posting a leaflet criticizing the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine. For similar leaflets he was already been fined by 85,000 roubles.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 24, 2022, pickets were held calling to stop the SMO. At least 18 picketers were detained, including Ruslan Nurushev.

Now, the Traktorozavodskoy District Court of Volgograd has fined Nurushev for discrediting the Russian Army. The reason was his posting of a leaflet on the house entrance door with the text that contained criticism of the SMO conducted in Ukraine, the "Kavkaz.Realii"* project reports.

Mr Nurushev has refused to plead guilty, referring to the fact that there is freedom of speech in the country, and it's not prohibited to express one's opinion.

Earlier, Nurushev was already fined for posting leaflets with a similar content near the Mamaev Kurgan and on the Komsomolsky Bridge.

Let us remind you that in February 2021, Ruslan Nurushev was fined by 10,000 roubles for participating in a rally on January 23 in support of Alexei Navalny**. Earlier, in September 2018, he was fined for taking part in a rally held by Navalny's supporters.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) in the register of foreign agents.

** Alexei Navalny is a founder of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (known as FBK), an NCO that is included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) in the register of NCOs performing functions of a foreign agent. The NCO is also recognized by a court as extremist and banned in Russia. Navalny’s offices are recognized as extremist organizations, and their activities are terminated by a court’s decision. On January 25, the “Rosfinmonitoring” (the Russian Federal Service for Financial Monitoring) added Alexei Navalny to the register of extremists and terrorists.