About the case: Ekaterina Nemirova was prosecuted under part 1 of Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences of Russia. Nemirova wrote an obscene word on the muddy car with the letter Z, thus “discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation”. She pleaded guilty.
The case is being heard by the Khamovnichesky District Court of Moscow, by the judge Marina Lvovna Syrova.
On April 20th, the hearing was scheduled for 10:30 AM at the Hamovnichesky Court, but the judge had a busy schedule with several cases even scheduled for the same time starting from 9:30 AM.
Ekaterina Nemirova appeared in court without a defense attorney. She had been sitting in the courtroom for some time before the hearing began.
At 12:00 PM, Judge Syrova started the hearing by inviting the offender to her and giving her a written explanation of her rights, suggesting that she read them herself.
The judge then announced that a protocol on an administrative offense had been submitted to the court. According to the protocol, Nemirova “placed the letter “Z” on the car, which is a symbol of support for the Russian Armed Forces,” thereby discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Nemirova provided an explanation, stating that she was in an emotionally difficult state and taking medication as prescribed by a doctor. It became clear that she had not placed the “Z” sign, as the judge had read, but had written an obscene word in the dirt on the car next to it. Nemirova admitted her guilt, explaining that at the time of the incident, she was on her way to the archive where her repressed grandfather’s case was kept. She admitted wrongdoing and noted that she wanted to convey to the specific owner of the car that a special operation was not a cause for celebration.
Judge Syrova told the offender that if she was experiencing any difficult conditions, she probably shouldn’t go out in public.
Nemirova filed a motion to include evidence of her emotional state in the case materials. The judge responded that she herself had no medical qualifications, but she would take it into account as an addition to the defendant’s position.
Next, the written materials of the case were examined, including Nemirova’s explanations, in which she stated that there was no administrative offense in her actions. The judge asked if Nemirova’s position had changed, and she now admitted her guilt, to which she received an affirmative answer.
Just 11 minutes after the start of the hearing, the court adjourned to make a decision.
After another 15 minutes, Judge Syrova returned to the courtroom and announced the decision without looking at the documents or approaching the bench: Nemirova was found guilty, but considering, among other things, her position, the minimum penalty was imposed – a fine of 30,000 rubles.
