RESULTS OF PROTESTS: MORE THAN 40 CRIMINAL CASES AND THOUSANDS OF ADMINISTRATIVE ONES

The flow of criminal and administrative cases initiated in Russian courts after the protests that took place on 23 and 31 January in defense of civil liberties turned the judicial system into a kind of a factory conveyor line and provided the judges, lawyers, defenders, prosecutors, police and everyone related to it with loads of work.

Even before the start of the protest actions on January 22, the Supreme Court began to initiate criminal cases under Article 151.2 of the Criminal Code of Russia. It deals with attempts to involve children in illegal activities (paragraphs "a", "c" of part 2). In this context, investigators began to study the content of social networks posts calling for participation in protests in support of Alexei Navalny.

As a result of the processions, which took place on January 23, 21 criminal cases were initiated and inspections continued on several more episodes.

The main crimes featured in them were incitement to riots, attacks on law enforcement officers, damage to property and hooliganism. Most of the hooligans, against whom criminal cases were initiated, turned out to be residents of the capital region. A representative of the Russian Guard was injured on Sretensky Boulevard, and on Pushkin Square in Moscow, an OMON officer was the victim.

Mass festivities that took on January 31 became the reason for the initiation of new criminal cases. The story of a policeman from St. Petersburg, who drew his service weapon and directed it at unarmed citizens, became the basis for initiating a case on the violence against a police officer. The actions of the police officer were justified.

An 11-year-old schoolgirl, who was detained during the protests, became the reason for her mother's being charged with a criminal offense under Article 125 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (leaving a minor in danger). It turned out that the girl from Toksovo, who informed the school teacher about her desire to go “for a walk” on Nevsky Prospekt on the 31st, could not thereby convince her mother to take prohibitive measures.

It is known that as a result of the actions that took place in different cities of Russia, more than 40 criminal cases were initiated by law enforcement agencies.

The number of administrative cases is still difficult to count, but the websites of the courts indicate the massive holding the citizens detained by the police administratively liable. According to the official statistics, 1403 citizens were detained in St. Petersburg as a result of the actions on January 23 and 31, as well as on February 2. 1113 of the cases were considered, 624 detainees received fines, 353 were arrested, and two received compulsory labor. 11 cases were closed and 123 returned.

It is not known whether the employees of the law enforcement system, who practiced violent actions against citizens and the detention of journalists, will be brought to administrative and criminal liability. According to the presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the protesters are "hooligans and provocateurs" who interfere with the work of transport and disobey the police.