Russian authorities targeted the activist Timur Bulatov, who until recently bragged that he had brought information to the authorities about people from the LGBT community and critics of the Kremlin. He has been charged with discrediting the Russian armed forces, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
A message posted on the website of a Moscow court said Bulatov, who is an open supporter of Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine, is charged under the censorship law used to punish critics of the war.
The man told "Telegram" channel "Caution, news" that he did not understand the reason for the charge, which can lead to a fine of up to 50,000 rubles ($545) for a first offense. In the event of a relapse, the relevant person already risks being sentenced to prison.
"Where is the discrediting?", Bulatov asked. "I am a person who gave information (that led to the imprisonment of about eight people in St. Petersburg, and more than 20 in the whole of Russia," he added.
It is clear from the court's official announcement that Bulatov's case was filed the day before yesterday. However, no further details were given.
Bulatov has openly discussed his activities as a serial whistleblower whose whistleblowing led to numerous civil and criminal cases filed over the years.
Called a "gay fighter" in some Russian media, he has long made denunciations against people from the LGBT community. According to his own data, at least 60 teachers who are her representatives have lost their jobs after he discovered their social media profiles and reported them to the authorities.
Homosexuality is not a crime in Russia, but more than a decade ago the country passed legislation against "gay propaganda," which leads to civil and criminal cases against people from the LGBT community, Reuters notes.
However, Bulatov's campaigns are not limited to them.
Separate cases have been opened against two people who published pictures of themselves partially naked in front of Russian Orthodox churches on the Internet, after Bulatov notified the authorities about them, reported "Ostrozhno, Novosti".
In recent times, independent Russian media have linked Bulatov with melting opponents of the war in Ukraine.
The head of the St. Petersburg branch of the writer's association "PEN International" for example, she was fined for a "discrediting" article after Bulatov wrote on the Internet that she had "spread lies" for the Russian army, Reuters points out.