Marina Melikhova. Screenshot of a video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfX7E6Lt4Zo

18 September 2024, 23:23

Court dismisses appeal of activist Melikhova against fine for her verse

A court dismissed all the arguments of the defence and upheld the decision to fine Marina Melikhova, an activist from Kuban, whose verse the law enforcement bodies recognized as discrediting the Russian Armed Forces. Marina Melikhova, who does not have the money to pay the fine, intends to file an appeal against the court’s decision.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on August 6, the Armavir City Court fined Marina Melikhova 30,000 roubles, finding her guilty of discrediting the Russian Armed Forces. The reason for the next police protocol was the pacifist verse written by Marina Melikhova and addressed to her grandfather, who perished during Worl War II.

Advocate Maria Spasibukhova noted that the video with the reading of the verse was not made and posted by Marina Melikhova, as the activist did not have access to the Internet on the date of publication, May 12, 2024.

“Marina Melikhova did not ask anyone to post her verse on the Internet, and there is no evidence to the contrary,” the complaint states. It also notes that the verse did not “mention the Russian Armed Forces or criticize the special military operation (SMO)” and that “personal creativity cannot be considered an offense or defamation.”

Marina Melikhova herself called the court’s decision on her appeal “expected.” The activist noted that if there had been an independent court, the original decision to fine would not have been made.

“The courts have brought me, a law-abiding and previously well-off person, to poverty and prison. Today, I have nothing to feed myself and my child with, and I have to accept help from people. All my banking accounts are blocked, and I cannot get a job anywhere. And I have even been banned from expressing my opinion and doing creative work,” Marina Melikhova complained.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 17, 2024 at 11:52 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Kristina Romanova Source: СK correspondent

All news
НАСТОЯЩИЙ МАТЕРИАЛ (ИНФОРМАЦИЯ) ПРОИЗВЕДЕН И РАСПРОСТРАНЕН ИНОСТРАННЫМ АГЕНТОМ ООО “МЕМО”, ЛИБО КАСАЕТСЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ИНОСТРАННОГО АГЕНТА ООО “МЕМО”.

October 05, 2024 04:15

  • Defendant in case on pogrom at Makhachkala airport pleads not guilty

    Magomednabi Shaikhslamov, involved as a defendant in a case on pogrom at an airport in Makhachkala, claimed that he ended up at the scene of the riots by accident, since he worked as a taxi driver. The video shows Magomednabi Shaikhslamov approaching the police, talking to them and leaving, but investigators accused the man of using violence against a public official.

October 04, 2024 22:56

October 04, 2024 22:48

October 04, 2024 21:18

October 04, 2024 20:15

News archive