Yeisk resident fined for posting pacifist comment on social network

A court fined Igor Fedotov, a resident of Yeisk, 40,000 roubles, considering his pacifist comment on the “VKontakte” social network as discrediting the Russian Armed Forces.

“Igor Fedotov explained that he posted the photographic material as an expression of his position against the war. There are a lot of similar materials on the Internet. At present, his pages on social networks have been deleted. He asks not to be strictly punished, as his sister is sick and he is taking care of her,” reports the court’s statement as quoted by the “Kavkaz.Realii”*.

The court stated that there were no circumstances mitigating the defendant’s liability.

“Igor Fedotov ... should be sentenced to an administrative fine ... since the imposition of such a penalty will help prevent him from committing new offenses,” the judge ruled.

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