Yekaterinburg journalist and human rights activist Yelena Shukayeva, who was arrested for 14 days for posting a FBK video “He is not Dimon to you” made in 2017, went on a hunger strike in “protest against police arbitrariness.” This is reported in Telegram “Vot so” with reference to her statement to the head of the special detention center.
Shukaeva indicated that she did this as a sign of disagreement with police brutality and a court order:
"This is a protest against police arbitrariness, against the perversion of meanings and indulgence by judges of any fantasies of the police."
Shukaeva was arrested on August 17, she was found guilty under Art. 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (demonstration of prohibited symbols). Before that, the police filed five protocols against the journalist for discrediting the Russian Armed Forces (Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation). The activist noted that the reason was her publications in social networks, including those that she published even before the adoption of the law on discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In total, the court fined her 200 thousand rubles. In the case of the publication of prohibited symbols, Shukaeva was detained in the courthouse, where her two appeals against fines imposed under the article on discrediting the Russian army were considered.
Russian law enforcement agencies have found a way to massively arrest activists, oppositionists, human rights activists and Crimean Tatars without any reason. People are sent to special detention centers on charges of displaying prohibited symbols, even if it was published on social networks several years ago. In the same way, independent candidates are deprived of the opportunity to participate in the elections, which will be held in Russia in September. 9 criminal cases and 51 administrative cases have already been opened , the Network Freedoms project reported. It is noted that fines and arrests under Art. 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses for old posts with the symbols of "Smart Voting" or accusations of having links with oppositionist Navalny.
