A criminal case has been initiated against political scientist Fyodor Krasheninnikov for insulting World War II veteran Ignat Artemenko. About this Krasheninnikov reported on Facebook and posted a screenshot of the police order. Earlier, the founder of the Anti-Corruption Foundation, Alexei Navalny, was tried on a similar charge, who also allegedly insulted Artemenko.
Fyodor Krasheninnikov is charged with part 2 of Art. 128.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (libel contained in media publications or on the Internet). He faces a fine of up to one million rubles or compulsory work. In addition, in the new version of the law, which entered into force in January 2020, the sanction provides for imprisonment for up to two years.
The reason for initiating a criminal case was a post that was posted on the Telegram channel “F. Krasheninnikov’s Telegrams” on February 5. “This whole booth with the participation of a 93-year-old grandfather is the quintessence of what Putin has turned the memory of the war into: a dull and wretched speculation by those and on behalf of those who either died or not themselves, for the sake of momentary political gain. Whether someone likes it or not, but together with Putin, he will leave, and all this is veterancy with a shaking of orders in the courts, “- said in a publication dedicated to the trial of Alexei Navalny.
Fyodor Krasheninnikov is sure that the materials for initiating a criminal case were ready back in February. But the case was set in motion on July 13 after the political scientist announced his stay in Lithuania a day earlier and had no intention of returning to Russia. “Obviously, the Investigative Committee and the police either did not know for sure that I was not in Russia, or they thought that I would return – and here they are with business. As a result, after my announcement, we decided not to delay further, ”Krasheninnikov said.
He stressed that “he has not been to Russia since August 9 last year.” “So there can be no traces of my alleged February criminal activity in Russia, even theoretically – so I really do not hope that my parents will be left alone,” concluded Fyodor Krasheninnikov.
Recall that a criminal case against Alexei Navalny about defamation of a veteran was initiated after the oppositionist called in June 2020 a “shame of the country”, “corrupt lackeys” and traitors to the participants in the RT propaganda video in support of the amendments to the Constitution. Designer Artemy Lebedev, actors Ivan Okhlobystin, Vasily Lanovoy, Irina Kupchenko, cardiologist Leo Bokeria, and WWII veteran Ignat Artemenko took part in the shooting.
After that, the Russian Union of Veterans complained about Navalny in the UK. Artemenko’s relatives said that the veteran felt bad because of the oppositionist’s comment, while the man himself did not see Navalny’s posts, they were told to him. According to the court, Alexei Navalny knew for certain that the information he was spreading was slander, “defame honor and dignity, and undermine his reputation.”
At the same time, SK expert Albina Glotova said in court that Navalny’s words “shame on the country” and “corrupt lackeys” addressed to the heroes of the video about the amendments are value judgments, not slander. However, the court ignored this expert assessment. On February 20, the Babushkinsky District Court of Moscow found Alexei Navalny guilty in a libel case and sentenced him to a fine of 850,000 rubles. In April, this verdict was confirmed.