CrimeaSOS: occupation “courts” issued 472 resolutions on “discrediting the army of the russian federation” in Crimea  

Over the past year and 9 months, the occupation courts in Crimea issued 472 resolutions on administrative liability for allegedly discrediting the russian army. CrimeaSOS analyst Yevhenii Yaroshenko told about it.   

“From March 4, 2022 to October 31, 2023, occupation courts in Crimea issued 472 resolutions on bringing to administrative liability for allegedly discrediting the russian army (Article 20.3.3 of the code of administrative offenses of the russian federation), of which 27 were issued only in October of this year”, – the analyst concluded.   

During this time, the so-called courts in Crimea handed down 5 verdicts in criminal cases on the alleged repeated discrediting of the russian army (Article 280.3 of the criminal code of the russian federation). One of them was issued in October of this year. It concerned Dmytro Kozlia who was not a public person and owned retail outlets in Simferopol.

In addition, since March 2, 2022, “courts” in Crimea issued 2 verdicts in criminal cases on alleged “fakes” about the russian army (Article 207.3 of the criminal code of the russian federation).   

On March 4, 2022, russian MPs adopted amendments to the legislation providing for administrative and criminal liability for “discrediting the armed forces of the russian federation”. This allows prosecution for spreading information and expressing a position about full-scale war that differs from the kremlin’s official position.  

According to Yevhenii Yaroshenko, the longer the full-scale war lasts, the more cases of “discrediting the russian army” there will be, because according to this article, virtually anyone can become a victim of politically motivated persecution.