Woman from Kabardino-Balkaria fined for discrediting Russian Army

The Baksan District Court has found the comment posted by a local woman in a social network as discrediting Russian militaries.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 4, 2022, an article on discrediting the Russian Armed Forces was added to the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses (known as KoAP), after which residents of the Southern and North-Caucasian Federal Districts (SFD and NCFD) began being held accountable under this article. For citizens, it provides for a fine, while a repeated violation thereof within a year entails already criminal prosecution.

Zukhra Malukhova has been fined under the article on discrediting the Russian Army for her comment posted on the Instagram*, the "Kavkaz.Realii"** project has reported.

It follows from the ruling posted on the court's website that Malukhova pleaded guilty and explained that she had left the comment "in connection with her strong emotional excitement," caused by the message about the death of a military serviceman. She asked the court to impose a sentence below the minimum threshold, explaining that her husband is in jail, she is raising their child alone, and all her savings are spent on renting an apartment. The court found no aggravating circumstances and agreed with this request by fining Malukhova by 15,000 roubles.

The "Caucasian Knot" has also reported wrote that Islam Bambetov, a resident of the Zolsky District, was fined under the article about discrediting the Russian Army for his comment posted in a social network.