In Voronezh, the decision of the judge who refused to fine the picketer was overturned

The Voronezh Regional Court sent for reconsideration the administrative case of activist Dmitry Shcherbatyuk, who in April held a picket with a “Stop the War” poster at the regional government building. This is reported by “Mediazona” with reference to the information on the court’s website.

Earlier, a protocol was drawn up against the activist on the article about the discrediting of the Russian army. However, the judge of the Leninsky District Court, Mariya Kozyakova, closed the case. She explained this by the fact that “a state of war has not been declared” in Russia, so the conclusion that Shcherbatyuk discredited the use of the Armed Forces of Russia during the so-called special military operation is based on an assumption.

Judge Kozyakova previously refused to fine three detainees during the anti-mobilization action. She issued a ruling on Shcherbatyuk’s case on June 29. Journalists drew attention to the decision, and on July 10, the police released Shcherbatyuk with an urgent telegram to the regional court for an appeal. According to SOTAvision telegram channel, he himself left Russia and was not at the meeting.

• The administrative article on the discrediting of the army was adopted eight days after the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It provides fines from 30 to 50 thousand rubles for public actions aimed at discrediting the use of the Russian Armed Forces in a “special military operation” (that’s how the Russian authorities call the war in Ukraine). Criminal liability is provided for repeated violations. She also appeared in the early days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.