Novosibirsk’s Central District Court on March 30 fined Sergei Krupenko, an activist from the unregistered Russian Communist Party (Internationalists), 250,000 rubles under Part 8 of Article 20.2 of Russia’s administrative code. The court said he had committed a repeat violation of rules governing public events. Olga Nechayeva, who represented him in court, told the project Vetor that the defense plans to appeal.
The case concerns events on March 1, when Krupenko planned to hold a rally in one of Novosibirsk’s designated “Hyde Parks” against the blocking of Telegram and the compulsory installation of the MAX messenger. The application for the event was filed on February 17, but city hall replied that the stated purpose allegedly “violated the principle of legality” and that there were no grounds for approval. The defense argues that, under the law, no approval was required for an event of up to 100 people in such a venue.
On the day of the rally, the area near the Globus theater was cordoned off with warning tape under the stated pretext of inspecting trees. According to Nechayeva, police officers and Center E personnel were present, while the municipal work appeared to be a formal excuse to keep people out of the square. Krupenko walked around the barrier, confirmed that access was blocked, and started a livestream for viewers of the party’s YouTube channel, explaining that the rally would not take place and urging those gathered to disperse.
“He told people: ‘Leave, otherwise this will be treated as a rally,’” Olga Nechayeva said, summarizing the defense position.
Police nevertheless classified the broadcast as an “unauthorized public event” in the form of a video address involving about 30 people. According to the protocol, the activist voiced disagreement with the actions of city hall and the police, and also spoke about internet censorship, the blocking of Telegram, and pressure to install MAX. The defense asked for witnesses to be heard, including people already present in the courthouse, but the judge refused, saying no additional private opinions were needed because the facts were, in his view, clear from the video recordings.
The protocol against Krupenko was drawn up only on March 29, when he was on his way to another rally, titled “No to punitive veterinary policy!”, against the seizure and slaughter of livestock in the Novosibirsk region. Nechayeva said the four-week delay appeared intended to prevent him from reaching that new protest. After his detention, the activist spent a day in a police station, and the court hearing took place the following day.
The harsher classification was applied because of an earlier penalty that came into force on February 25: a previous court had already treated the laying of flowers on November 7, 2025, in the Square in Memory of the Heroes of the Revolution as an unauthorized public event. Krupenko faced up to 30 days of administrative arrest, but the defense submitted medical records, and the court ultimately imposed a fine instead. Vetor reported that the anti-cull rally on March 29 still went ahead, with several dozen people gathering at the site.