Vitaly Zaitsev

Resident of Tula. On May 2, 2024, Zaitsev was prosecuted under administrative articles on incitement to hatred or hostility (Article 20.3.1 of the CAO) and on dissemination of information via the Internet expressing "obvious disrespect" for the government and symbols of the Russian Federation (part 3 of Article 20.1 of the CAO). In the first case, the reason was publications "humiliating the human dignity" of law enforcement officers, while in the second case it was posts about Vladimir Putin. Zaitsev was arrested for five days and fined 60 thousand rubles. Immediately after the end of the administrative arrest, Zaitsev was detained again, which was done using force, according to him, and accused of calls for extremist activities and terrorism. According to official information, the reason was the posts with aggressive statements against the participants of the war and calls to kill the highest officials of the Russian Federation. Zaitsev himself claims that no murders were mentioned in his posts and comments. He was placed under house arrest. On October 22, 2024, Zaytsev was sentenced to two years of forced labour and a fine of 300,000 rubles. On December 9, 2024, the appeal court increased the amount of the fine to 390 thousand.