Journalist Totrov refuses to pay fines for discrediting Russian Armed Forces

The court’s decision on the fine for discrediting the Russian Armed Forces will be challenged, and an appeal will be filed against the previous similar court’s decision, journalist Ruslan Totrov reports. Administrative penalties under articles on discrediting the Russian Armed Forces should be challenged in order to reduce the risk of further criminal prosecution, a lawyer advises.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that in Vladikavkaz, a court found Ruslan Totrov guilty of discrediting the Russian Armed Forces and imposed a fine on him. A similar court’s decision was pronounced on November 14. In total, three protocols were drawn up against Ruslan Totrov, which he explained by his professional activities. After three administrative protocols, the risk of criminal prosecution of Ruslan Totrov increased, the lawyer emphasizes.

Ruslan Totrov has called the decision pronounced today by the court as illegal as the first one. “No linguistic examination was carried out, and the fact that I am not in Russia and cannot be convicted under the article on discrediting the Russian army was not taken into account,” Ruslan Totrov said.

A person brought to administrative responsibility several times during the year for discrediting the Russian Armed Forces faces the risk of being subjected to criminal prosecution, lawyer Irina Lokshina says.