The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation reported that a criminal case is being pursued after an incident in Lyubertsy, near Moscow, where the owner of a network of cafes reportedly did not admit a participant in a special military operation to a cafe.
According to investigators, activists from a public organization reached out to the committee’s chairman online. They alleged that the owner of the Lyubertsy hospitality chain refused entry to members of a group associated with the special military operation. The person who posted about the incident on social media is said to have shared content that was described as extremist in nature.
The main investigative department of the Investigative Committee of Russia is examining the matter as a crime under Part 1 of Article 282 of the Criminal Code, according to officials. The provision concerns incitement of hatred and hostility, and the humiliation of human dignity.
Additionally, Alexander Bastrykin instructed the head of the Main Investigative Directorate of the Committee for the Moscow Region to report on the progress of the investigation. The central office of the RF Investigative Committee is overseeing the investigation and monitoring its development and outcomes.
Earlier, the owner of a Lyubertsy coffee shop known as Strong Coffee faced a fine of 45,000 rubles after comments posted online reportedly describing the escort of a veteran of the SVO from the workplace. Reports indicate that followers of a public movement began looking into the owner’s social media posts, claiming that the cafe owner shared videos from rallies and questioned the financiering of defense forces. The situation prompted inquiries into whether the owner’s online communications crossed legal boundaries and whether any funds were connected to military operations.
In response to the broader controversy, a spokesperson who serves as the public relations representative for the president disputed the tone of the reports, calling certain statements unsettling. The unfolding case highlights how online expressions can intersect with public safety concerns and law enforcement oversight, particularly in contexts involving national security and public order. (citation: Investigative Committee of Russia)