Court dismisses appeal of activist Melikhova against fine for her verse

A court dismissed all the arguments of the defence and upheld the decision to fine Marina Melikhova, an activist from Kuban, whose verse the law enforcement bodies recognized as discrediting the Russian Armed Forces. Marina Melikhova, who does not have the money to pay the fine, intends to file an appeal against the court’s decision.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on August 6, the Armavir City Court fined Marina Melikhova 30,000 roubles, finding her guilty of discrediting the Russian Armed Forces. The reason for the next police protocol was the pacifist verse written by Marina Melikhova and addressed to her grandfather, who perished during Worl War II.

Advocate Maria Spasibukhova noted that the video with the reading of the verse was not made and posted by Marina Melikhova, as the activist did not have access to the Internet on the date of publication, May 12, 2024.

“Marina Melikhova did not ask anyone to post her verse on the Internet, and there is no evidence to the contrary,” the complaint states. It also notes that the verse did not “mention the Russian Armed Forces or criticize the special military operation (SMO)” and that “personal creativity cannot be considered an offense or defamation.”

Marina Melikhova herself called the court’s decision on her appeal “expected.” The activist noted that if there had been an independent court, the original decision to fine would not have been made.

“The courts have brought me, a law-abiding and previously well-off person, to poverty and prison. Today, I have nothing to feed myself and my child with, and I have to accept help from people. All my banking accounts are blocked, and I cannot get a job anywhere. And I have even been banned from expressing my opinion and doing creative work,” Marina Melikhova complained.