Krasnodar activist manages to challenge the fine imposed for filming in pacifist clip

The Krasnodar Court of Cassation has cancelled the decision to prosecute Alexei Mandrigelya, an activist.

On February 28, 2022, a pacifist video clip filmed by a team of journalists, lawyers and activists "Protocol" was posted on the Internet; the heroes of the clip expressed their opinion on the situation in Ukraine and commented on Russia's actions. They were persecuted. Mikhail Benyash, a Krasnodar lawyer, also took part in filming the video. In this regard, last April, policemen drew up a protocol against him under the article on discrediting the army. The above Court of Cassation has dismissed the case due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.

The court in Krasnodar has overturned the ruling on bringing to justice Alexei Mandrigelya, the coordinator of legal assistance for anti-war actions, the "Kavkaz.Realii"* project has reported. The reason for the cancellation was formal – the court failed to prove that it had properly notified the activist about the court session. The case was formally sent for retrial, but the statute of limitations for bringing to justice under this article has already expired. This is the first case in Southern Russia and Northern Caucasus, when a fine for "discrediting" the army was successfully challenged at cassation.