Zoo rights defender Denis Djalaganiya accused of discrediting Russian Army

After a denunciation that was made against Denis Djalaganiya, a public animal welfare inspector, that he had allegedly discredited the Russian Army in his pacifist publications posted in an animal rights group chat, an administrative protocol was drawn up against him.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that three men had beaten Denis Djalaganiya up, when he tried to check the conditions of keeping dogs in a shelter that works with stray animals. One of the attackers wrote a denunciation against the activist, accusing him of discrediting Russian militaries; and Djalaganiya was questioned by the FSB (Russian Federal Security Service) on this matter. On August 9, Djalaganiya was denied a criminal case. The owner of the shelter, Olesya Demchuk, stated that Djalaganiya had baselessly accused her of cruelty to animals.

On September 9, Djalaganiya was summoned to the Tikhoretsk police, a denunciation was written against him for his pacifist statements in an animal rights chat on the WhatsApp*. "The police major warned me that this would be the first time an administrative case would be opened against me. But if I were to make pacifist statements again, a criminal case would be opened," Djalaganiya said.

*On March 21, 2022, the Tverskoi Court of Moscow banned the activities in Russia of the Meta Company, owning the Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, in connection with extremist activities.