A Sochi court fined the moderator of a pro-Telegram chat.

The Adler District Court fined Victoria Krivoshchapova 15,000 rubles for organizing an uncoordinated protest against the Telegram block.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," Krasnodar deputy Alexander Safronov was unable to challenge in court the actions of city administration officials, who initially approved a protest against the Telegram block and then revoked their permission. The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs promised that all protests would be suppressed.

Case materials indicate that Krivoshchapova, while at her place of residence, urged users of the Telegram group chat "Scarlet Swan" to participate in a rally against the Telegram blocking in Moscow, according to the Adler Court ruling.

Through correspondence with the chat administrators, she agreed to participate in organizing the aforementioned events, was appointed as an assistant moderator, campaigned among users, and monitored the statements of opponents. However, "no notification of the public event was filed in the prescribed manner, and the rally itself was planned for Bolotnaya Square without the approval of public authorities," the statement stated.

The court ruling indicates that Krivoshchapova participated in the hearing without a defense attorney. She pleaded guilty.

The Adler District Court found Krivoshchapova guilty of violating the established procedure for organizing or holding a meeting, rally, demonstration, march, or picket and imposed a fine of 15,000 rubles.

The "Caucasian Knot" also reported that the organizers of the rally in defense of Telegram in Rostov-on-Don, as well as in Volgograd and Volzhsky, were also subjected to pressure. Rostov activist Evgeny Makovoz was arrested for ten days on charges of petty hooliganism, while security forces visited the home and work of Volzhsky activist Varvara Luch.

Activists in more than 20 Russian cities attempted to coordinate rallies in defense of Telegram, but authorities banned all such actions for various reasons. In a number of cities, officials, like those in Krasnodar, revoked previously issued permits: in Penza, an open roller skating practice was cited as the pretext for revoking the permit; in Khabarovsk, the administration cited repair work; in Irkutsk, the high interest in the event and the inability to ensure its safety; and in Vladimir, the threat of drones, according to the publication Yuga.Ru.

On March 26, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs issued a warning about possible detentions and penalties for participating in protests against internet blocking, which were announced on social media for March 27-29.

"The distribution of materials calling for 'illegal behavior' or 'false information' about the work of government agencies may be regarded as an attempt to destabilize society. The Ministry of Internal Affairs called on citizens not to respond to such calls and to avoid the locations of planned protests (...) The ministry added that such events will be 'immediately suppressed,' and their participants and organizers will be detained," The Moscow Times reported.

For six weeks, the Kremlin has failed to send propagandists instructions on how to explain internet restrictions and messaging app blocking to citizens. Sociological studies have shown that this is a 'powerful trigger for literally everyone,' although the resulting discontent does not undermine the population's loyalty to the country's leadership; As a result, the authorities "don't understand how exactly to calm people down," the publication "Verstka"* points out, citing sources.

* are included in the Russian register of foreign agents.

** The activities of Meta (owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp) are banned in Russia.