In Syktyvkar, the police accused eco-activist Nina Ananina, who was detained in the morning of April 21, of announcing an action in Telegram. Security officials used a bot to establish her identity, the Apologia of Protest Human Rights Organization cites lawyer Vladislav Kosnyrev.
Nina Ananina was taken to the town police department. The report of the acting head of the Department for Countering Extremism for the Komi Republic, published by Apologia of Protest, states that "the fact of publishing the information about another unagreed protest rally in support of Navalny by user Chernobylsky Baibak was established" on April 20.
The police established the identity of the post’s author by using the Quick OSINT Chatbot. Law enforcement officers found out that Ananina’s mobile phone number had been used to sign up the user.
Report of the acting head of the Department for Countering Extremism for the Komi Republic. Source: t.me
The activist was charged with arranging an uncoordinated public event (Part 2 of Article 20.2 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation). According to lawyer Vladislav Kosnyrev, there were no “clear violations” on the part of the police.
"They acted normal. [Nina Ananina] is okay," Kosnyrev told 7x7.
Update 3:17 p.m.
According to the Save Vychegda Committee Activist Group on vk.com, Nina Ananina has been released from the Syktyvkar police department. She is charged with arranging a rally by promoting the action in a Telegram chat.
"We have not pleaded guilty and refused to evidence. Law enforcement officers are still having the activist's smartphone," the lawyer said.
The Anti-Corruption Foundation* has announced an all-Russian rally in support of Alexei Navalny on April 21. The police began detaining the politician’s supporters, activists, and members of opposition parties on the eve of the unagreed rally in the regions. Learn more from 7x7’s review.