Case of propaganda concerning a minor.

A protocol was drawn up against minor B. for committing an administrative offense under Part 2 of Article 6.21.2 of the Administrative Offenses Code of the Russian Federation. The case was submitted to a magistrate’s court. The court, guided by legal norms, ruled that since the person held accountable is a minor, the court does not have jurisdiction over the case. The case was then transferred to the Commission on Juvenile Affairs, which issued a ruling holding B. administratively liable. B. and a lawyer from Sphere appealed this decision, and the court overturned it.

Disruption of a film screening in Veliky Novgorod.

In December 2022, a screening of Russian short films about LGBT+ people titled “Word” was organized in Veliky Novgorod. The screening was disrupted by police, and the equipment was confiscated. The case was taken to court. The court imposed a fine of 50,000 rubles under Part 1 of Article 6.21. The lawyer appealed the court’s decision. After questioning experts, the court referred the case materials to the North-Western Regional Center for Forensic Expertise of the Ministry of Justice, which found no propaganda in the case. Sphere also commissioned an expert opinion, which was added to the case materials in court. After reviewing the expert opinions, the court ruled that the case materials contained no propaganda.

Blocking of the Russian LGBT Network’s website.

State Duma deputies Zemtsov and Milonov sent a request to the Prosecutor General’s Office regarding the illegal actions of the Russian LGBT Network. Their request was forwarded to the Basmanny Interdistrict Prosecutor’s Office, which filed an administrative lawsuit in the Basmanny District Court to include the Network’s website in the list of prohibited information. The court considered the case without summoning the respondent and agreed with the prosecutor’s demand. This court decision was appealed. The appeal included the results of an examination confirming the absence of information prohibited for dissemination among minors on the Network’s website. The appellate court overturned the district court’s decision.

Case of propaganda in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

An activist from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky was repeatedly detained for participating in rallies in support of Navalny in 2022. Administrative protocols were drawn up against him under Article 20.3.3 Administrative Offenses Code (for discrediting the Russian army) and Article 19.3 Administrative Offenses Code (for disobeying the police). He also received 5 days of administrative arrest in 2022 for non-payment of an administrative fine in the case of “discrediting the army.” In 2023, a criminal case was initiated against him under Part 3 of Article 242 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. After undergoing a forensic psychiatric inpatient examination, which found him sane, the court sentenced him to a suspended sentence. We consider this case won, as a much harsher punishment could have been imposed on the accused.