Russian cross-country skiing champion Zimiryov arrested in Sochi for 15 days after action in Navalny's memory

A court in Sochi has sentenced Nikolai Zimiryov, who was detained after an action in memory of Alexei Navalny, to arrest. He has been convicted of posting extremist symbols in social networks.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Nikolai Zimiryov, a Russian ski champion, who on February 17 attracted law enforcers' attention by his action in memory of Navalny, was not in touch for five days after his detention.

According to the Tsentralny District Court of Sochi, Zimiryov had posted in a social network "a modified Russian flag with three horizontal stripes, in which the red stripe was replaced by a white one." This image was treated as "attributes of an extremist organization banned in Russia."

Let us note her that Zimiryov has earlier spoken out openly on socially significant topics. Thus, after law enforcers detained Navalny's supporters of in January 2021, he recorded a video message addressed to law enforcers.

"If you have not an ounce of dignity and self-respect, stop dishonouring decent officers. By using violence, you are killing the health of our nation. Our citizens have the right to speak openly about the issues that concern them," he stated in his video message.