Veniamin Kotkin

Veniamin Kotkin is a resident of the town of Mezeni, Arkhangelsk region. On 5 December 2022, the Leshukonsky District Court fined him 10 thousand rubles under the article on incitement to hatred or enmity (Article 20.3.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences) for his comments about border guards, police officers, FSB officers, prosecutors and employees of the JSC "Mezenskoye lesnichestvo".

The criminal case against Veniamin Kotkin became known on 14 September 2023 from the report of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Arkhangelsk region and the Nenets Autonomous District. Kotkin was elected a preventive measure in the form of prohibition of certain actions.

He was accused of participation in the "People's Council of citizens of the RSFSR USSR of the Arkhangelsk region", which in May 2022 was recognised as an extremist organisation, as well as posting comments "aimed at inciting hatred and hostility" to law enforcement officers and officials on the social network. On his VKontakte page, Kotkin posted a picture of himself with a red banner and a message that he considers himself a citizen of the USSR. During the search, two kilograms of gunpowder were also found in Kotkin's possession, which led to charges under the article on possession of explosives.

On 23 April 2024, the Leshukonsky District Court of the Arkhangelsk region found him guilty under articles on incitement to hatred or enmity (part 1 of article 282 of the Criminal Code), participation in the activities of an extremist organisation (part 2 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code) and illegal storing of explosives (part 1 of article 222.1 of the Criminal Code). Kotkin was sentenced to six and a half years of suspended imprisonment with a probation period of five years, with a fine and restriction of freedom for six months.