Two-year sentence in Chelyabinsk region for social media posts calling for sabotage of mobilization and harm to military equipment
In a notable case from the Chelyabinsk region, a resident of Miass was sentenced to two years in a penal colony after being found guilty of publishing content on social networks that urged acts intended to undermine state security. The ruling was issued by the Miass City Court and is reported by DEA News with attribution to the press service of the regional department of the FSB of Russia. The court determined that the posts collectively amounted to public calls for actions aimed at destabilizing state order and security, a charge that falls under the provisions of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The sentencing highlights the authorities’ ongoing emphasis on controlling online content that is perceived as a threat to public safety and government operations. According to the FSB, the individual publicly urged mobilized citizens to disrupt military events, sabotage security measures, and damage weapons and military equipment. This case is presented as one of the first verdicts issued under the then-new post that governs such calls on social media. The press service of the FSB notes that the sentence reflects a firm stance against statements or actions that could facilitate harm to state security or the functioning of the armed forces. The outcome is being interpreted as a clear message to others who consider using the internet to advocate disruptive activities in relation to mobilization efforts and military readiness. [Source: FSB press service]
In the same wave of enforcement actions, authorities report another case from February involving a resident of Simferopol who faced detainment on allegations connected to demands for the killing of law enforcement officers. While such reports illustrate the breadth of cases under consideration, they also underscore the authorities’ focus on maintaining social stability during sensitive periods of mobilization and security operations. The ongoing legal process in this instance is described as part of a broader policy framework designed to deter calls for violence or actions that could threaten public order and national defense. [Source: FSB press service]
Earlier developments in Moscow’s Lefortovsky District Court included a separate case in which a Russian citizen, noted as a former legionnaire of the French Foreign Legion, received a four-year prison sentence. The individual had planned to travel to Ukraine to join the Ukrainian Armed Forces, an intention viewed within Russia as directly related to foreign involvement in ongoing armed conflicts. The court emphasized the seriousness of attempting to relocate to participate in foreign military actions, framing the decision as part of the wider effort to regulate cross-border military engagements and to prevent individuals from joining or supporting foreign armed forces while in Russia. This sentence adds to a broader legal narrative about foreign conflict involvement and the length of penalties assigned for related activities. [Source: various court statements]