Sochi resident fined for pacifist post in social network

A court in Sochi has fined Mikhail Rubtsov, a local resident, by 30,000 roubles, treating his post in a social network criticizing the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine as discrediting the Russian Army.

According to the ruling of the Tsentralny District Court of Sochi, Rubtsov had placed a post in his Instagram* page with an image of the flags of Russia and Ukraine and a statement against the SMO in Ukraine.

"The reason for the post was his regret about the start of the SMO. Currently, the attitude towards it is neutral. He didn't know that this post contained signs of discrediting the Russian Armed Forces," the defendant's position is quoted.

*On March 21, 2022, the Tverskoi Court of Moscow banned the activities in Russia of the Meta Company, owning the Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, in connection with extremist activities.