Alexei Chesnokov, an activist from Petrozavodsk, is accused of insulting a representative of power under Article 319 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The case was initiated because of a comment on Facebook, allegedly left by Chesnokov to a post on the page of Ekaterina Muranova, an anarchist from Medvezhyegorsk who was sentenced to a fine of 350 thousand rubles for justifying terrorism.
Alexei Chesnokov claims that he did not leave the comment and tries to prove it in court; he believes that the case against him is politically motivated and is connected with him being a member of the support group for Yury Dmitriev and holding several one-person pickets in defense of the Karelian researcher of Stalin's terror.
Chesnokov learned about the criminal case being initiated against him on June 10, 2020, when his apartment was searched. On May 19, 2021, pre-trial court hearings began. The 13th judicial magisterial precinct of Petrozavodsk is considering the case. The next meeting will be held at 1:30 p. m. on June 18.