A 58-year-old resident of Kurgan faced a verdict from the Yekaterinburg Central District Military Court after authorities found him guilty of internet-based actions that called for revolution and punitive measures against city leadership and federal lawmakers. The case highlighted how online rhetoric can trigger real-world consequences under Russia’s security framework. The court’s decision reflects a broader trend of authorities treating public calls for violent upheaval and policy-change as serious offenses, even when expressed through social media or other digital platforms.
In the proceedings, an unemployed individual was found guilty of publicly advocating extremist and terrorist activities. The sentence underscores the state’s stance that online messaging promoting violence, upheaval, or measures against official figures constitutes a direct threat to public order and national security. The case shows how digital speech is scrutinized and penalized when it crosses the line into incitement or calls for action that could destabilize the country or provoke harm to government or societal institutions.
The convicted Kurgan resident disseminated materials through social networks that urged revolution, endorsed violent actions, and called for reprisals against a number of federal ministers and State Duma deputies with the aim of altering the country’s power structure. Additional posts targeted Elena Sitnikova, the then mayor of Kurgan, and leaders of transport companies, framed as personal revenge. The legal assessment emphasized that these communications were designed to provoke non-peaceful political change and to incite harm against public officials and critical infrastructure, which the authorities deem unacceptable under the law.
For the crimes identified, the individual was fined 300,000 rubles and sentenced to two years of corrective labor with 10 percent of wages withheld to fund the state. The decision illustrates the severity with which such online offenses are treated in the current legal climate and how monetary penalties and labor obligations can accompany criminal findings when the state views online incitement as a direct threat to its stability and the safety of citizens.
The case arrived amid broader legislative activity, including the Federation Council’s unanimous approval of laws that authorize the confiscation of property and prohibit actions that jeopardize Russia’s security while spreading false information about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. These measures reflect a concerted effort to curb disinformation and safeguard public confidence in state institutions, especially in relation to national defense and the integrity of official communications. They signal a legal environment in which any dissemination of misinformation about the military or security services is treated as a serious offense with potential property and civil consequences.
In related developments, there were recent reports that young saboteurs were detained in Moscow, an event that aligns with ongoing police operations aimed at countering threats and subversive activities within major urban centers. The pattern suggests heightened vigilance around acts perceived as attempts to disrupt critical services or undermine public safety, with local and federal authorities coordinating to deter, investigate, and prosecute such offenses as part of a comprehensive national security strategy.