The US Embassy in Georgia has criticized the creation of a new Interior Ministry unit tasked with combating so-called online hate speech. The statement was issued in response to a query from the Georgian service of Radio Liberty regarding the detention of journalist Vakho Sanaia.
A resident of Karachay-Cherkessia received a suspended sentence for donations totaling less than two thousand rubles to the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK). This is Alexei Navalny's former project, which is designated as terrorist in Russia. According to the defendant, he decided to financially support the organization after watching its videos online, which included a donation link.
On August 17, 2021, the man transferred $10 (774 rubles) from his bank card on the FBK website. A month later, a similar amount (766 rubles 50 kopecks) was debited from his account as part of his default donation subscription. Unsubscribing required emailing.
Fearing criminal liability for the donation, the man contacted the FBK to unsubscribe after the second debit, which, however, did not prevent him from being held accountable.
Ultimately, the court sentenced him to three years' probation. The court took into account his positive characteristics: no criminal record, a guilty plea, remorse, the presence of three young children, and his previous support for charitable organizations.