Resident of Kuban was fined for “extremist symbols” on the leaflets of “Smart Vote”

On August 17, the Armavir City Court of the Krasnodar Territory fined Sergei Solomakhin 2,5 thousand rubles for “purchasing, for the purpose of marketing or propaganda,” Smart Voting leaflets. On decree Judge Viktor Lantukh, who found Krasnodar guilty under the article on the production or sale of materials with extremist symbols (part 2 of article 20.3 of the Administrative Code), noticed analytical center “SOVA”.

According to the court, on August 11 at 17:25, Solomakhin “allowed the purchase for the purpose of selling” leaflets containing information about “Smart Voting”, which is a “FBK project”. In court, the man pleaded guilty and “repented of what he had done,” the message says.

The experts found that the “Smart Voting” leaflets had “all the signs of extremist printed products,” and the FBK called for “violation of electoral legislation”. The leaflets themselves (1000 in total) were confiscated by the court and ordered to be destroyed.

In accordance with the federal law on countering extremist activities, materials are recognized as extremist in court, and then the Federal List of Extremist Materials is entered, after which their mass distribution is punished under Art. 20.29 of the Administrative Code. However, Sergei Solomakhin was prosecuted under another article – on the acquisition for the purpose of marketing or propaganda of extremist paraphernalia or symbols. At the same time, the court decision does not say what attributes or symbols are in question.

“Smart Voting” is a strategy put forward by the team of Alexei Navalny with the aim of depriving the party of power “United Russia” of votes in regional and federal elections. The goal of the project is to consolidate the votes of those who oppose United Russia.

In June, the Moscow City Court recognized the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) and other structures of opposition leader Alexei Navalny (the Foundation for the Defense of Citizens’ Rights and Navalny’s headquarters) as extremist organizations. Now the activities of these organizations are officially banned, and their members and even just supporters, according to the new law, will not be able to be elected to the legislative bodies of all levels for several years. Previously, FBK and the Foundation for the Protection of Citizens’ Rights were recognized as organizations performing the role of a foreign agent.

According to the prosecutor’s office, these organizations “under the guise of liberal slogans” are engaged in creating conditions for “destabilizing the social and socio-political situation” and “changing the foundations of the constitutional system, including using the scenario of the“ color revolution ”. Later, the department reported that Navalny’s structures called for “violent actions, extremist activities, riots”, and also “involve minors in illegal activities.” The prosecutor’s office believes that all these organizations worked “in active coordination and at the request of various foreign centers conducting destructive actions against Russia.”