Activists aligned with the movement Veterans of Russia told the television channel RT that they have submitted requests to the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Investigative Committee. Their aim is to see comedian Ruslan Bely face legal action for allegedly discrediting the Russian military and for what they describe as calls for extremism among the population.
The activists point to a recent performance in which Bely reportedly stated that he does not support a special military operation, mentioned that half of his relatives live in Ukraine, and claimed that Kiev would not be the first to strike Russia. These remarks are positioned by the group as evidence of anti-military sentiment and have been presented as a basis for legal scrutiny.
On March 16, political figure Yevgeny Roizman, who had previously served as the mayor of Yekaterinburg and is recognized as a foreign agent in Russia, was involved in actions related to the publication of extremist symbols. Law enforcement officials allege that he posted a video of FBK on VKontakte, a social network that has been listed as a foreign agent by the Justice Ministry and banned in Russia. Roizman’s wife and lawyer contend that he does not use this social platform. He has since faced house arrest and restrictions on internet use in the ensuing months.