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Russia Issues First Fine for Searching “Extremist” Materials Under New Law

The ruling tests a new administrative article that targets deliberate searches for content labeled extremist.

Overview

  • A magistrate court in Kamensk-Uralsky fined 20-year-old Sergey Glukhikh 3,000 rubles on December 10 in the first known case under Article 13.53.
  • The article, introduced to the Code of Administrative Offences in summer 2025, penalizes searching for and accessing materials officially designated extremist.
  • An updated police protocol stated Glukhikh used the Safari browser on his phone to look up images via Google, citing the Azov battalion chevron as the specific item.
  • Courts had returned the case in November due to missing details on how data was obtained and whether materials were formally recognized as extremist, prompting a revised filing.
  • The defense denies intent and says the searches were accidental, while authorities point to repeated queries about banned groups and participation in neo-Nazi–themed online communities.