A criminal case was initiated against the editor-in-chief of the publication «Groza» Leonid Spirin for «discrediting» the army. The reason for the initiation was Spirin's posts and comments on the internet. For example, under the news in the Telegram channel «Groza I Kazan» about a university delivering humanitarian aid to the military, the journalist wrote: «Luhansk is occupied by the Russian army...»
The linguistic examination for the Investigative Committee was conducted by Kazan Federal University. According to experts, the linguistic sign of «discrediting» is the word «occupied», which «indicates a negative attitude» of Spirin towards the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
As stated in the decision to initiate a criminal case, which is at the disposal of «First Department»*, Spirin, after being held administratively responsible under the same article for comments on social networks, «did not draw the necessary conclusions for himself and again continued the public discrediting of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation».
In another decision, the Investigative Committee stated that the investigation was unable to determine the whereabouts of Leonid Spirin. This may indicate that the journalist has been declared wanted, notes «Groza». Spirin is outside of Russia, reported «First Department».
Previously, for saying that the Donetsk and Luhansk regions were occupied by Russia, a former associate professor of the Mining University in Yekaterinburg was detained. He was charged with spreading military «fakes».
Last year, the State Duma adopted amendments that increase the maximum penalty under the article on «discrediting» to seven years of imprisonment. Roskomnadzor twice blocked the publication's website.
In November 2023, «Groza» was declared a «foreign agent». Roskomnadzor twice blocked the publication's website.
* Recognized as «foreign agents» in Russia.