The statement in support of Ukraine led a resident of the Chegem district to a fine.

The court fined a resident of the Chegem district of Kabardino-Balkaria, Felix Tukov, acknowledging that the slogan he pronounced in a video on the internet in support of Ukraine discredited the Russian military.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", responsibility for discrediting the armed forces was introduced on March 4, 2022. Since then, residents of Russia, including Kabardino-Balkaria, have been prosecuted under the relevant article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. It provides for fines for citizens ranging from 30,000 to 100,000 rubles, and repeated violations within a year threaten criminal prosecution.

According to the case materials, resident of the Chegem district Felix Tukov recorded a video in which he criticized Vladimir Putin and pronounced a slogan in support of Ukraine. He then published this video on the internet. The security forces discovered the video and drew up a protocol against Tukov.

The Chegem District Court found Tukov guilty of discrediting the armed forces of the Russian Federation and fined him 30,000 rubles, as stated in the case card published on the court's website.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that the court in the Prokhladnensky district previously fined local resident Viktor Marchuk, also recognizing his negative statements about the military operation in Ukraine as discrediting the army.