A video about a fine for filming a drone attack has become part of a campaign by Dagestani authorities.

A video explaining the man fined for filming the drone attack on Kaspiysk serves as a categorical reminder to residents of Dagestan of the consequences of publishing such videos.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," a ban has been imposed in Dagestan on publishing information about terrorist attacks, Ukrainian drone strikes, the deployment of Defense Ministry forces, and critical infrastructure. The decree was signed by Dagestan's head, Sergei Melikov, on October 14.

A video with an explanation from a Kaspiysk resident, who does not give his name but says he is a father of six children who was fined for filming the drone attack on December 1, was published by several popular Dagestani public groups. "I got off with fines. Don't send these videos to anyone," the video's subject stated.

Dagestan Public Monitoring Commission head Shamil Khadulaev believes the father of six's words are true. "I have no doubt about his words. The purpose of this video is to warn everyone about the risk of punishment for publishing such videos. "He clearly stated this," he told the Caucasian Knot.

But, according to him, residents of Dagestan are unlikely to heed such warnings about the ban on filming. "The people take Melikov's orders, whatever they do. He's not the State Duma for them, so decrees become law and everyone is punished according to the law. Many still don't even know about such a decree and ban," he noted.

Retired Interior Ministry Colonel and PhD candidate in law Amir Kolov believes the published video could have been recorded at the instigation of the authorities to prevent the publication of drone footage.

"I believe this video is a warning that disseminating information about drone attacks may result in criminal liability. "But the problem is that this has no benefit for preserving the lives and health of people, nor for improving the image of Dagestan's leadership. On the contrary, it serves as legal and psychological pressure on the residents of Dagestan, forcing them to remain silent about the danger to the people and thereby suppressing the feeling of social solidarity," Kolov told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to him, the validity of Melikov's decree is questionable. "Firstly, people have the right and should know that there is such a danger to their lives and health. Secondly, banning the dissemination of such information does not bring any benefit to people, since in the case of drone strikes and harm to people, such information in Dagestan, where people are more united and communicative than in some other regions of Russia, is disseminated verbally, but can have the effect of distorting the factual circumstances of the case," Kolov noted.

He is confident that the state is obligated to conduct public awareness and preventative work to counter drone attacks. "(Authorities) are obligated to provide a public legal and technical assessment of each incident (of attacks) in order to protect the life and health of every citizen, as the highest value enshrined in the Russian Constitution. In my opinion, banning the dissemination of such information or concealing these facts by state bodies is tantamount to concealing information about the spread of diseases or other threats," Kolov emphasized.

The video was intended to warn of possible punishment, said a Dagestani journalist who did not wish to publish his name. "Of course, such video messages support the ban imposed by Melikov in Dagestan. Similar bans are in effect in other regions of the country," he told the Caucasian Knot.

According to him, the published video inspires confidence. "Cases of the public posting videos of air defense systems or drone movements are not isolated. And, nationwide, including in Dagestan, this is not the first time someone has been detained for such a violation," the source noted.

As a reminder, in September, authorities in North Ossetia imposed a ban on the publication of photographs and videos of drone attacks, air defense systems, and the aftermath of attacks. Similar regulations are already in effect in other regions of southern Russia – in the Astrakhan, Volgograd, and Rostov regions, Adygea, and Kalmykia. On August 28, it was reported that in the Rostov region two people were fined under administrative law for filming the aftermath of drone attacks.