A court in Moscow arrested Mundep Tsukasov for 15 days for a post about “Smart Voting”

The Ostankinsky District Court of Moscow appointed 15 days of arrest to the municipal deputy of the Ostankinsky district, Sergei Tsukasov, for demonstrating the symbols of an extremist organization (part 1 of article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses).

As follows from the protocol drawn up against him (available to Kommersant), the deputy was charged with last year’s post about “Smart Voting” (Aleksei Navalny’s project to support the most powerful opposition candidates), published in his Telegram channel. According to the police, the symbolism of this project is associated with the “Navalny Headquarters” public movement, which in the summer of 2021 was recognized as an extremist organization, banned on the territory of the Russian Federation and liquidated by the court.

The police detained Sergei Tsukasov late in the evening of August 11 during a meeting with residents of Ostankino, organized as part of the municipal election campaign. MP himself does not have the right to run for a new term, since he was deprived of the passive electoral right for three years as a person “involved in the activities of an extremist organization.” The court considered the posts of Mr. Tsukasov in social networks and his participation in last year’s rally in support of Alexei Navalny as evidence.

Recall that Sergey Tsukasov coordinates one of the largest platforms in Moscow for training candidates for municipal deputies, the “Deputy Academy”. He connects his detention with the fact that he provides assistance to self-nominated candidates in his constituency.

The MP intends to appeal against the decision of the court. Recall that the repeated punishment for the demonstration of extremist symbols, according to recent amendments to the law, can now threaten with a criminal case.

Kira Heifetz