A Makhachkala resident was fined for placing an Instagram logo* on a store door.

THIS MATERIAL (INFORMATION) WAS PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED BY FOREIGN AGENT MEMO LLC, OR CONCERNING THE ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN AGENT MEMO LLC.

A court fined the owner of a pet store in Makhachkala one thousand rubles for displaying the Instagram logo* on his door.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," in May, at least six people in Dagestan were fined for displaying the Instagram logo* on signs and in publications. Telegram users considered the security forces' zeal excessive.

The owner of a pet store in Makhachkala was fined for displaying an Instagram logo* on his front door, Golos Dagestana reported on June 7.

According to security forces, during "preventive measures," they saw an Instagram logo* with a link to the store's social media page at the entrance to the pet store. This was deemed a display of the symbols of an extremist organization.

In court, the 50-year-old store owner, Ruslan M., admitted his guilt and asked for the minimum sentence. Ultimately, the court fined him 1,000 rubles.

As a reminder, according to media lawyer Svetlana Kuzevanova, liability for displaying extremist symbols only applies if they are displayed publicly. Regarding Meta* products, she said there haven't been many cases of citizens being held accountable for displaying its symbols since the organization was designated as extremist. "Of course, a sudden wave could occur, but given that four years has been a periodic process, we can somehow assess it. So, overall, it's not a very active practice and is unlikely to become so," Kuzevanova said.

* Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) is banned in Russia.