Sverdlovsk deputy faces fine for uncoordinated procession on Airborne Forces Day

Viktor Babenko, a member of the Legislative Assembly of the Sverdlovsk Region from United Russia, was charged with an administrative offense due to an uncoordinated festive procession on the Day of the Airborne Troops (VDV) of the Russian Federation. As stated on his page “In contact with” Mr. Babenko, the Ministry of Public Security of the region refused to coordinate the event.

“This protocol cannot be found anywhere: it is not published on the website of the ministry, it was not attached to the answer. We did not manage to find out in what cases and in what forms it is possible to hold public events,” said Viktor Babenko. According to him, the administrative case was initiated after a festive procession of a column of veterans of the Airborne Forces to the Black Tulip memorial took place on August 2.

“Today these celebrations are especially relevant, because this year, as in the past, the event was attended by military personnel performing their duty in a special military operation. We simply could not abandon this tradition, especially in such a difficult time for our country,” said deputy Babenko.

The hearing of the case will begin on August 17 at 15:30 in the Leninsky District Court of the city of Yekaterinburg. According to Part 1 of Art. 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (violation of the procedure for holding a demonstration), Viktor Babenko faces a fine of 10,000 to 20,000 rubles.

Viktor Babenko heads the board of the Sverdlovsk branch of the Russian Union of Afghan Veterans. He is a member of the coordinating council for the patriotic education of citizens in the Sverdlovsk region under the governor.

Airborne Forces Day is celebrated annually on August 2. Events are traditionally held in honor of the holiday in the Sverdlovsk region. A festive procession is taking place in the center of Yekaterinburg and paratroopers are landing.

Polina Khabarova, Yekaterinburg