About the case: According to the prosecution, Veronika Borisovna Belotserkovskaya posted several entries on Instagram (a social network declared extremist in the Russian Federation) and is accused under Article 207.3, Part 2, Paragraph “d” (public dissemination of knowingly false information about the use of the Russian Armed Forces).
The case is being heard by the Basmanny District Court of Moscow, with Judge Elena Anatolievna Lenskaya presiding.
Journalists with cameras are allowed into the courtroom.
Member of a public: “Why are you filming? The less noise, the better for us. What are you doing?”
The court secretary was replaced today — Shmatov.
The hearing begins with the prosecution’s motions:
The motions were granted.
The prosecutor reads the indictment: Belotserkovskaya disseminated knowingly false information about the use of the Russian Armed Forces, claiming they violated constitutional norms and international humanitarian law. Acting out of political hatred on Instagram (a social network declared extremist in the Russian Federation), she publicly spread knowingly false information. While being outside the Russian Federation, she committed actions that could have led to unjustified public tension. From March to April 2022, she published several posts about the Mariupol bombing (denied by the Russian Ministry of Defense). On April 3, 2022, motivated by political hatred, she posted about Bucha. According to the Ministry of Defense, civilians are not a target, and physical harm is not permitted.
Defense: “She could not have known the information from the Ministry of Defense as she is outside Russia. Hatred towards military personnel and hostility are denied. Western media provide different information, and she follows the BBC. She was born in Odesa; it is her homeland. Currently, she is detached from the realities of the Russian Federation.”
The witness — Igor Alexandrovich Fedotov (born 1974) — testifies: “I saw her online. We have a community of concerned citizens, some file reports, and some do not. There are many of us now. It concerns Western and Ukrainian information. It’s all over Telegram and Twitter. The investigator found me in the comments and invited me. A person should be held accountable for their words, especially since she is a public opinion leader.”
The prosecution motions to read Fedotov’s preliminary investigation testimony. No objections — granted.
Fedotov’s testimony: “A professional chef. I followed her culinary publications. After the start of the Special Military Operation, I began to follow her posts more closely. Her posts angered me. I visited her Instagram profile (a social network declared extremist in the Russian Federation), and the posts there provoked outrage and disgust.”
The witness confirms the testimony read aloud. No questions were asked.
The prosecution requests to read the testimony of Moskvinа from Voronezh.
Moskvinа’s testimony: “I followed her on Instagram (a social network declared extremist in the Russian Federation). On June 3, I read claims that our troops committed crimes in Ukraine. I wrote, if I remember correctly, an electronic appeal to the prosecutor’s office. Later, Belotserkovskaya stopped actively posting information discrediting the Russian Armed Forces.”
A linguistic analysis was then presented, showing Belotserkovskaya’s negative assessment of the Russian Armed Forces.
The hearing ended with the court granting a motion for adjournment.
