FSB detained local resident in occupied Crimea over pro-Ukrainian comments
Russian security forces in occupied Crimea detained a man accused of publicly calling for “extremist” and “terrorist” activities in online comments, according to the occupation administration of the FSB and pro-Russian Telegram channels.
Illustrative image. Photo credit: TASSThe detainee is a 44-year-old resident of the Sovetskyi District whose name has not been disclosed.
Russian security forces allege that he posted comments in Telegram groups calling for violence against Russian military personnel and for military enlistment offices to be set on fire. He also reportedly criticised the militarisation of children in Crimea, including the activities of Russia’s “Young Army” movement.
Occupation forces raided the detainee’s home and claimed to have found items bearing Ukrainian symbols, U.S. flags and military patches in his garage.
A criminal case was opened against the man under Article 280(2) (“Public calls for extremist activities”) of the Russian Criminal Code. Occupation law enforcement officers also said they were considering opening a case under Article 205.2(2) (“Public calls to the performance of terrorist acts”) of the Russian Criminal Code.
If charged with both offences, the detainee could face up to seven years in prison.
This week alone, ZMINA documented at least two cases in which people in the occupied territories of Ukraine were persecuted over online comments:
- in Melitopol, Russian security forces detained a local resident over comments posted on Telegram in 2022;
- in Crimea, a Russian-controlled illegitimate “court” sentenced a resident of Simferopol district to two years of forced labour over online comments.
The UN believes that Russia has created an atmosphere of fear in the occupied territories of Ukraine.
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