A criminal case for spreading "fakes" about the Russian army (Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) has been initiated against two young men from Nizhny Novgorod, as reported by the press office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.

On August 13, representatives of the police, Federal Security Service (FSB), and the Investigative Committee detained two young men, both born in 2006. Their home was searched, and their electronic devices were confiscated.

The criminal case arose from a video in which the students discussed the war in Ukraine in their kitchen. The report was filed by Nina Govorova, the principal of Lyceum No. 82, where both students are enrolled.


In November, the police filed reports against the two students for discrediting the army (Article 20.3.3 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation) following a complaint by Principal Govorova. She reported that a video of the young man criticizing the Russian army and discussing Ukraine, Russia, and their teachers in the kitchen had been sent to the school’s email.

Following the publicity, Lyceum No. 82 called for an end to the bullying of Govorova and imposed a ban on "discrediting" the Russian army, officials, and the school’s administration.

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