18:48, 20 February 2023

KBR's SC cancels fine imposed on woman for taking part in anti-mobilization action

Anti-mobilization protesters. Screenshot of the video by the "Caucasian Knot" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNvo-9KMwvs

The Supreme Court (SC) of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR) has cancelled the ruling of a lower court on bringing Svetlana Semyonova, a resident of Nalchik, to administrative responsibility.

On October 31, the court found her guilty of violating the procedure for holding events during an anti-mobilization rally against and fined her by 5000 roubles.

The KBR was the only region in Northern Caucasus, where officials went out to hold personal dialogue with anti-mobilization protesters. Thus, on September 26, 2022, in the course of talks with protesters, officials suggested that they put their claims on paper, and those who were mobilized in violation of the law were promised to be "returned back." According to the "OVD-Info"* project, as of October 3, 2022, at least 20 protocols were filed with the court, in which protesters were charged under articles on discrediting the Russian Army, violating the procedure for holding public events and disobeying the police. Human rights defenders have treated it illegal to bring the citizens who took part in protests in Nalchik on September 25-26 to administrative responsibility.

In her complaint, Svetlana Semyonova stated that she had not violated the law on holding public events, the "Kavkaz.Realii"* outlet has reported.

Semyonova was detained on September 30 in the street "under the orientation paper," the "Memorial" Centre for Human Rights Defence has reported. After Svetlana joined the anti-mobilization actions on September 26, four armed policemen detained her. At the police station, she was offered to "repent" and support in her explanation the authorities' actions, but Semyonova refused to do it.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 19, 2023 at 09:24 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: Caucasian Knot