Mari activist fined almost half a million rubles for “discrediting” the army and “inciting hatred”

In November, the Yoshkar-Ola City Court found Mari activist Yuri Blagodarov guilty of repeatedly “discrediting the army” and “inciting hatred and enmity” for posts on social networks. He was fined 150,000 rubles under the first article, and 250,000 rubles under the second.

In addition, Blagodarova, according to the verdict, must pay procedural costs of 66 thousand rubles. Blagodarova’s permanent income is a pension of 18 thousand rubles.

The court ordered the man to transfer 10 thousand rubles monthly to pay the fine. The activist intends to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court of Mari El.