Two residents of the Don received sentences in the case of an extremist organization

The court in the Rostov region sentenced two residents of the region to real prison terms, recognizing them as participants in an extremist organization. One of the men was also found guilty of publicly justifying terrorism.

The accused are men aged 45 and 46, residents of the Oblivsky district. Both were charged with participating in the activities of an extremist organization (part 2 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation provides for a prison term of two to six years). The older of the men was also charged under the article on public propaganda of terrorism (part 1 of article 205.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, from two to five years in prison).

According to the prosecution's version, the accused “continued to participate” in the activities of some extremist organization from 2019 to 2024, although they were aware of its prohibition. “In the territory of the Oblivsky district, the men participated in meetings, spread the ideology of the banned organization, and involved new people in its activities,” reported the Rostov Investigative Committee.

Investigators note that to spread the ideology of the organization, they also “used one of the messengers.” An additional charge against the 46-year-old man is related to the fact that he “publicly justified the activities of terrorist organizations” banned in Russia during one of the meetings, the Telegram channel of the agency indicates, without specifying which specific organizations are being referred to.

The court sentenced the 45-year-old defendant to four years in prison and the 46-year-old to six years. The investigators did not disclose the occupations of the accused; it is also not indicated whether the men agreed with the charges. The agency does not specify the name of the extremist organization of which both men were recognized as participants by the court.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that in October at least two residents of Dagestan came under investigation as alleged participants in the extremist public association USSR*, which has been banned in Russia since 2019.

People who consider themselves citizens of the "USSR" are an informal community; they unite in various organizations, human rights activist Alexander Verkhovsky told the "Caucasian Knot" in March 2023. "These are different people who believe that the USSR continues to legally exist, while the Russian Federation does not. They unite in different organizations. From time to time, these organizations also split into parts," he explained. According to the human rights activist, several organizations of those who consider themselves citizens of the "USSR" have already been banned in Russia, but this abbreviation is not always present in their names.

* The Supreme Court of Komi recognized the organization as extremist and banned its activities on the territory of the Russian Federation in July 2019. Several other organizations with the abbreviation "USSR" in their names have also been included in the list of extremists.

** The activities of the Meta company (which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) are banned in Russia.