An anti-war activist was fined for attempting to hold a rally

Anti-war activist Maxim Lypkan was fined for attempting to hold a “Year of Hell” rally on the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is reported by “OVD-Info”.

The court imposed two fines on him: 50,000 rubles under the article on discrediting the army and 30,000 rubles under the article about organizing an uncoordinated public action. In mid-February, the Moscow City Hall did not coordinate an anti-war rally “because of the coronavirus,” and a week later, a rally-concert with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin took place at the Luzhniki stadium, which, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, was attended by more than 200,000 people.

Since February, Lypkan has been in a Moscow pretrial detention center on charges of spreading so-called fakes about the Russian army. The reason for initiating the case was his interview with Radio Liberty. In it, the 18-year-old activist talked about the anti-war actions he held and the attempt to agree on the “Year of Hell”. He will stay in the SIZO until at least April 20, 2023.

• After the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian authorities started persecution for anti-war speeches and statements.
• According to “OVD-Info” estimates, during the 13 months of the war, the police detained more than 15,000 anti-war activists.
• At least 528 criminal cases have been opened for the anti-war position, including 154 – on the article about fakes about the Russian army (Russian courts recognize as fakes reports about the war in Ukraine that do not coincide with the version of the Ministry of Defense of Russia) and 66 – on the article about repeated discrediting of the Russian government and armies (Russian courts consider, for example, the use of the word “war” and not “special military operation” in relation to the war in Ukraine to be discreditable).