The Petrogradsky District Court of St. Petersburg fined local resident Lika Dyachkina three times under Article 20.3 of the Administrative Code for posting a photo of Alexei Navalny at the Solovetsky Stone in Petersburg, reported 'Network Freedoms'. In all three court decisions, it is stated that 'the name and surname - 'Alexei Navalny', as well as his image, have a well-established perception in society'. In addition, the politician's surname 'is contained in the name of the movement 'Navalny's Headquarters', which is recognized by the court as extremist and its activities are prohibited'.
'The attributes and symbols of extremist organizations should be understood as the attributes and symbols used by such organizations for individualization and positioning themselves in society, for promoting the goals and objectives of such organizations,' the court decisions state.
Thus, according to the court, the photo of Navalny is an 'attribute and symbol of extremist organizations' and is prohibited by law.
In March last year, the Oktyabrsky District Court of Murmansk already made a similar decision regarding activist Maria-Victoria Nagornykh, who appeared with a photo of the politician after his murder in a colony in Harp.
As noted by 'Network Freedoms', a new judicial practice is emerging that introduces a ban even on photos of Alexei Navalny. Previously, there have been cases of prosecution under Article 20.3 of the Administrative Code for posts with photos of Alexei Navalny, but in all known cases, the photos also included other symbols of banned organizations associated with him.
* Included in the list of 'terrorists and extremists'.
Photo: AP