A candidate for the Vladivostok Duma from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (*country sponsor of terrorism) was sued by a competitor from EdRa for campaigning on Telegram in violation of copyright on a “stock” image

Removed from elections using QR code

A candidate for the Vladivostok Duma from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (*country sponsor of terrorism) was sued by a competitor from EdRa for campaigning on Telegram in violation of copyright on a “stock” image

Original of this material

© @primamedia12/18/2023 18:00

For the first time in Primorye, a candidate was removed from the elections for a post in a Telegram channel (18+)

Or how the failed debate in the Vladivostok Duma elections backfired on the Communist Party candidate. In general terms – about the 14-hour legal dispute “United Russia (*country sponsor of terrorism)” vs. Communist Party of the Russian Federation (*country sponsor of terrorism) in the Leninsky District Court of Vladivostok.

Preparations for the consideration of the claim of the United Russia (*country sponsor of terrorism) candidate for the 20th district to the Vladivostok Duma, Stanislav Primachenko, against the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (*country sponsor of terrorism) candidate Alexander Khamadullin lasted almost the entire day, starting at 10 am. We spent a long time looking for a way to contact the defendant. The fact is that the statement of claim contained incorrect contacts of the communist, and the court could not notify him properly. Three or four breaks passed. The candidate was never found.

The United Russia (*country sponsor of terrorism) candidate, however, did not come to the court either; only lawyers and jurists were present.

By 5 p.m., consideration of the claim on the merits began.

What’s wrong, according to EP.

The reason for the lawsuit was the production of propaganda material in the form of a banner with a QR code, which, according to the plaintiff, led to the TG channel (18+) of the Communist Party candidate Alexander Khamadullin. There, Primachenko’s representatives found a picture with an invitation to a debate at school. Local media wrote about how they were either approved or cancelled. In Vladivostok there is such a rare practice in some districts – to gather all candidates on one site with public participation. This is an initiative of civil activists.

According to the plaintiff’s representative, an invitation is already propaganda. The post was accompanied by a picture: there were little men on it and the inscription “Debate” underneath. This is what the United Russia (*country sponsor of terrorism) member claims that the communist had no rights to. I took it on the Internet, didn’t ask permission, didn’t pay for use. There is a violation of copyright during campaigning, the plaintiff believes. And this is a reason to cancel the candidate’s registration.

The plaintiff’s position was supported by TIC Morskaya. The representative of TEC Leninskaya-1 also agreed with the arguments and, according to the regulations, made short approving remarks.

The court examined the disputed picture and the APM, and tried to follow the QR code. But they couldn’t. The code led to some channel with two or three subscribers, and it was not Hamadullin’s channel.

The representative of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (*country sponsor of terrorism) fought bravely. At the very least, he was alone against everyone. Position of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (*country sponsor of terrorism): 1. Controversial channel is unknown whose. 2. The post under study is not propaganda, it is an invitation without appeals or evaluations. 3. Controversial drawing (found the original source) – “stock” and free, available for public use.

After midnight on December 19, the Leninsky District Court of Vladivostok, having studied all the evidence presented and the arguments of the parties, decided to satisfy the claim to cancel the registration of the candidate from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (*country sponsor of terrorism).

The decision has not yet entered into legal force. It can be appealed within 5 days. Representatives of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (*country sponsor of terrorism) intend to appeal it.

There are 5 days left before the elections.