"For a penny - eight years in prison": experts on the consequences of recognizing FBK Navalny as an extremist organization

FBK's lawyers have ten days to appeal the ruling of the Moscow City Court, but it is already important to understand what the consequences will be not only for the participants and heads of these organizations, but also for all other citizens, if the complaint is filed, but its satisfaction is denied.

After the entry into force of the decision of the Moscow City Court, the heads of the FBK, its employees and members of Navalny's headquarters may face criminal prosecution under Art.

282.2 of the Criminal Code of Russia (for the creation of an extremist organization, involvement in its activities and participation in it), Denis Nikitin, a lawyer of the Human and Law legal center, told RT.

Also on russian.rt.com, the Moscow Prosecutor's Office filed a lawsuit recognizing the FBK as an extremist organization

“Up to six years in prison will threaten ordinary employees of the organization, as well as those who commit deliberate actions related to the continuation or resumption of the activities of this organization,” the lawyer explained.

Equated to Nazi symbols

The expert noted that the court's decision on recognizing the organization as extremist cannot have retroactive effect, therefore, there should be no consequences for those who provided financial assistance to FBK earlier.

“Everyone else who, after the entry into force of the court's decision, continues to finance these organizations, for example with donations, or help them as a volunteer, will face up to eight years in prison under the article of the Criminal Code on financing extremist activities,” the lawyer explained.

However, those who continue to finance the FBK and Navalny's headquarters will have to answer to the fullest extent of the law, emphasizes political analyst Sergei Karnaukhov.

“If someone sends even a penny to support an extremist organization, including donations during online streams using cryptocurrency (methods and forms are not important here), he can be sentenced for this penny to eight years in prison (under Article 282.3 of the Criminal Code . -

RT

) ", - said the interlocutor of RT.

From the moment the court decision enters into force, the demonstration of symbols, including products with the image of the FBK logo, will be prohibited, the expert specified.

“If a teenager sticks a sticker with the logos of Navalny's structures on his scooter and appears in a public place, he may face liability in the form of administrative arrest.

After the decision is made, the symbols of the Nazis and Navalny's structures will be considered identical from a legal point of view, ”the political scientist added.

Also on russian.rt.com, the Ministry of Justice included the FBK clone in the register of foreign agents due to Ukrainian funding

Struck by civil rights

Despite the fact that no one will bear responsibility for donations to Navalny's structures until they are recognized as extremist, those involved in their activities will be amazed at their passive electoral right.

In other words, they will not be able to run for elections.  

The corresponding amendments to the federal laws "On basic guarantees of electoral rights and the right to participate in a referendum of citizens of the Russian Federation" and "On elections of deputies to the State Duma" were adopted by the parliament on May 25, 2021, and signed by President Vladimir Putin on June 4.

On the same day, the law on amendments was published on the official portal pravo.gov.ru and entered into force.

In addition, according to the law of the Russian Federation "On the Mass Media", after the entry into force of the court's decision recognizing Navalny's structures as extremist, all media outlets will be required to indicate that these organizations are prohibited on the territory of the Russian Federation.

"The text of the message must contain a direct indication of the liquidation or prohibition of the activities of such organizations," - says a special explanation of Roskomnadzor.

For non-compliance with these requirements, the editorial staff and the founder of the media may receive a warning from Roskomnadzor, as well as incur administrative liability.

It is not excluded, however, that even after the final recognition of Navalny's structures as extremist, these organizations will continue to carry out illegal activities, but with "partisan methods."

This opinion is shared, in particular, by the political scientist Oleg Matveychev.

The owners of organizations will use various legal tricks, for example, create new legal entities and depersonalize pages to disguise their true identity, explained lawyer Ilya Remeslo.

* The Anti-Corruption Foundation is included in the register of NPOs performing the functions of a foreign agent, by decision of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation dated 09.10.2019. 

** The Fund for the Protection of Citizens' Rights was included in the register of NPOs performing the functions of a foreign agent, by decision of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation dated December 25, 2020.