On May 19, the court fined the former mayor of Yekaterinburg Yevgeny Roizman (recognized as a foreign agent) 260 thousand rubles in the case of discrediting the Russian army. The defendant himself said that he considers such a verdict “acquittal in the current conditions” and, most likely, will not appeal against it. Roizman added that he would resume personal receptions of city residents and continue to stream on social networks. He was greeted with applause as he left the courtroom. Read more in the article “Gazety.Ru”.
Oktyabrsky District Court of Yekaterinburg on Friday, May 19, fined the former mayor of the city Yevgeny Roizman (recognized as a foreign agent in the Russian Federation) for 260 thousand rubles in a criminal case on repeated discrediting of the Russian army, RIA Novosti reports.
“Royzman Yevgeny Vadimovich was found guilty and sentenced to a fine of 280 thousand rubles.
Taking into account the detention of Roizman in this criminal case from August 24, 2022 to August 25, 2022, the amount of the fine imposed by 20 thousand rubles should be mitigated, ”the judge announced his decision.
It was this punishment that the public prosecutor asked for, pointing out Roizman’s charitable activities, the presence of two small children and positive characteristics as extenuating circumstances.
The ex-mayor was found guilty of “re-discrediting” the army. Now under this article threatens up to five years of imprisonment.
However, the old version of Part 1 of Art. 280.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which was in force at the time the criminal case was initiated, it only provides for a fine, the prosecutor’s office explained.
“Roizman was greeted with applause”
As a preventive measure, Roizman’s ban on certain actions was extended until the sentence came into force. This means that for some time the ex-mayor cannot, in particular, speak in public and use the Internet.
Roizman said that he considers such a verdict “acquittal in the current conditions” and, most likely, will not appeal against it.
“Firstly, it was unexpected, I won’t lie. I think that this is an acquittal in the current conditions. My task was, first of all, not to sit down, and secondly, not to tell myself a new term and stay in my positions, which, I think, I succeeded, ”he said.
The ex-mayor added that he would resume personal receptions of the residents of Yekaterinburg and continue to stream on social networks. At the exit from the courtroom, he was greeted with applause, RBC reports.
The court hearings were previously attended by the editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta (the publication’s media license was revoked), Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitry Muratov. He stated that he had come to support Roizman.
In addition, Nyuta Federmesser, director of the multidisciplinary palliative care center in Moscow, acted as a defense witness. The People’s Artist of the USSR Alla Pugacheva also sent a characterization to the court.
Heart of the matter
Yevgeny Roizman was detained on August 24 last year. The politician’s apartment in Yekaterinburg, as well as the Museum of the Nevyansk Icon opened by him on the basis of a private collection, and the office of the Roizman Charitable Foundation were searched.
According to the investigation, in July 2022, during the broadcast on the YouTube channel, talking about the political situation in the country, Roizman made “statements that undermine the authority of the Russian army.”
The politician himself did not admit guilt and stated that he “did not even mention anywhere” the Russian Armed Forces.
In March last year, three protocols on an administrative offense were drawn up against Roizman (Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses). It was alleged that the discrediting of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was allowed in the publication on Twitter, the Telegram channel and in the video.