Several Crimean residents have been sentenced to different terms in the penal colonies in cases of “discreditation of Russian Army”.
Thus, in October, the “Kievskiy District Court” of Simferopol sentenced Dmytro Kozlia, a Crimean resident, to a year in the general security regime penal colony in the case of repeated discreditation of the Russian army (RF CC Article 280.3-1). No details of the repeated case are available.
In May 2022, Dmytro Kozlia was already fined RUR45,000 under an administrative article on discreditation of the army. Then he was blamed for a comment on social networks about the Russian military. As Aleksandr Takipov, a blogger-collaborator wrote, “Kozlia was actively doing business in Crimea, placing stalls in amusement parks.”
On November 2, the “Feodosiya City Court” of Crimea sentenced Mr.Oleh Valeyev, a local resident, to one and a half year in the penal settlement colony in the case of repeated discreditation of the Russian army for publications on social networks (RF CC Article 280.3-1).
To remind, on September 20, the “Simferopol District Court” sentenced Mr.Danylo Seryogin, a local resident, to one and a half year in the penal settlement colony in the case of repeated discreditation of the Russian army (RF CC Article 280.3-1). In addition, a case was opened against the man for alleged illegal possession of cannabis (RF CC Article 228-1).
As the CHRG informed, a new article – “discreditation of RF Armed Forces” (RF CC Article 280.3) was introduced in Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This article may cause both administrative and criminal punishment.
On March 14, 2023, the State Duma approved amendments which increased the maximum punishment under this article, now it is a 7-years’ sentence.
