Rallies in Russia

History

2021: The number of people punished for illegal rallies in Russia increased 6 times over the year

In 2021, Russian courts brought six times more people to administrative responsibility for violating the procedure for holding public events than in 2020. Such data were published by the Judicial Department at the Supreme Court of Russia in April 2022.

According to these statistics, which Interfax cites, in 2021, 15,579 people were held accountable for violating the established procedure for organizing or holding a meeting, rally, demonstration, procession or picketing (Article 20.2 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation):

more than 2.2 thousand administrative arrests were ordered; more than 12.5 thousand - fines; 676 - mandatory work.

In 2021, Russian courts brought six times more people to administrative responsibility for violating the procedure for holding public events than in 2020.

In 2020, 2,442 people were brought to justice: 233 were ordered administrative arrest, more than 2000 received fines, 147 - mandatory work. In 2019, 4034 people were involved under this article.

According to a message on the website of the Investigative Committee of Russia, the law provides for liability for participation in unauthorized mass actions. At the same time, participation in mass riots accompanied by violence is punishable by imprisonment for up to 8 years, and their organization - up to 15 years. In the case of involvement of a minor in the commission of illegal actions using the Internet, the law establishes a punishment of up to 3 years in prison.

According to the UK, the organizers of such events, as a rule, did not appear on them themselves and watched what was happening from the outside, coordinating what was happening through social networks and instant messengers. And those who came to such unauthorized fees fell under the influence of provocateurs and persons who committed illegal actions, including against law enforcement officials.^[1]

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