Svetlana Zotova
Svetlana Zotova, born 1967, Yaroslavl Oblast. Charges: Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)); Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Public calls for extremism (using mass media or the internet)); “Svetlana Zotova's case of public justification of terrorism and calls for extremist activity”. Sentence (March 20, 2024): A fine of 330,000 rubles and 2 years' ban on administering websites. Status: at large.
In brief
Yaroslavl Oblast · Yaroslavl · Unemployed · Anti-war cases, Terrorism cases, Extremism cases
Sentence
A fine of 330,000 rubles and 2 years' ban on administering websites
First instance, December 6, 2023: A fine of 350,000 roubles and 2 years' ban on administering websites
Charges
- Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public incitement to terrorism or justification of terrorism (using media or the internet)
- Article 280 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Public calls for extremism (using mass media or the internet)
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, she posted comments to the posts of the "Combat Anarchist" and "Ukraine 24/7" Telegram channels that violate Russian law. Mediazona reports that one of the comments approves of blowing up the Crimean bridge, while the other two comments speak about the senselessness of peaceful protests and the need to overthrow the government. It follows from the ruling on initiation of criminal proceedings that the publications were made from an account linked to Zotova's old phone number, seized during the search in connection with her daughter's case. She did not recognise the authorship of the comments and said that during the interrogation she was not allowed to familiarise herself with their content.
Latest event
March 20, 2024 — appeal
The court changed the sentence.
Timeline
· Appeal ruling
sentence changed
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Persecution begins
Svetlana Zotova's case of public justification of terrorism and calls for extremist activity
Criminal case
Svetlana Zotova's case of public justification of terrorism and calls for extremist activity
Thematic group: Anti-war case
Details and sources
Full summary
The mother of Valeria Zotova, who is being prosecuted for the arson of a humanitarian aid collection point for Donbas. On March 14, 2023, security servicemen came to Zotova's home and took her to the police station. There, they began questioning her about the comments she posted on social media. According to Zotova, one of the officers threatened to prosecute her, called her obscene names, and swung his fists at her. Zotova was then taken to the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where she was informed that two criminal cases had been opened against her. The first was for incitement to terrorist activity. Zotova was charged with two comments, in one of which she allegedly wrote the words "Russians" and "nuclear." However, the police refused to show her these comments. Another criminal case, according to security officials, is related to her interrogation in the case of her daughter, Valeria. The woman was released the same evening, and charges were brought against her on March 16. On December 6, 2023, Zotova was sentenced to a fine of 350 thousand rubles.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.2 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.