Russia cracks down on Putin insults with fines and arrests
Russians have collectively paid nearly 12 million rubles in fines for insulting Putin (Photo: Getty Images)
In Russia, disrespect toward authorities and insults directed at Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin can lead not only to fines but also to arrest. Since 2019, nearly 400 cases have been initiated, according to Russian media outlet Verstka.
Verstka notes that charges of disrespect toward authorities are usually filed under the administrative article on minor hooliganism. Law enforcement considers offensive to the Kremlin leader not only personal attacks but also criticism of his policies or comparisons to war criminals.
Police and the FSB can identify disrespect to the president in a social media post, comment, video repost, message in a messenger group, caricature, graffiti, or writing on a fence or wall.
Over the past six years, at least 12 people have been placed under administrative arrest for disrespect toward Vladimir Putin. In total, at least 391 administrative cases have been initiated over insults to the Kremlin chief during this period.
At least 379 individuals have been involved, 10 of whom were fined multiple times in different years. Additionally, 28 cases were closed due to the expiration of the statute of limitations or lack of evidence of an offense.
Notably, the number of cases against insults to Putin increased after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Journalists have documented numerous instances of insults to Putin. For example, in Khimki near Moscow, resident Vladimir Seryak had to pay a large fine for a photograph posted on the social network VKontakte. The image featured a portrait of Putin with a black mourning ribbon in the lower right corner.
Crimean student Yevhen Vyunikov, while speaking on a chat roulette platform, said: “We are now under Putler, oh, I mean Putin.” He was forced to apologize and pay a fine of 50,000 rubles.
Another Crimean resident, Vladyslav Kislyakov, was fined 60,000 rubles for posting two photos on his VKontakte page - one of Putin and one of Hitler. Next to Putin’s photo was his quote: “Crimea has always been and remains an integral part of Russia.” Beside Hitler’s photo was the Führer’s statement: “Danzig is a German city.”
This year, a school janitor from Stavropol, Nina Yakovleva, also faced legal action. Reportedly, after drinking in the evening, she sent several messages to her colleague, the school’s facilities manager. The exact content is unknown, but according to the recipient, the messages contained insults directed at her, the school, and the president. Yakovleva was required to pay a 50,000 ruble fine.
Former Perm Krai deputy, businessman, and activist Konstantin Okunev paid an even higher fine of 250,000 rubles. He was primarily fined for insulting Putin (three times) and several additional times for inciting hostility toward the Russian president and police.
The fine followed a post containing phrases such as: “Putin, have you lost it?” and “Give the country a chance to emerge with dignity from this darkness and hell into which you have dragged it over 23 years of your criminal, senseless, and futile (for Russia) rule.”
According to media calculations, Russians have collectively paid at least 11.5 million rubles in fines for insulting Putin.
Earlier, a court in Russia fined a resident of Vladivostok for an online post stating that Putin steals money from the poor.
Additionally, Russia fined Google for refusing to remove information about the war in Ukraine.
