According to the telegram channel “Vitebsk, I’m playing,” Sergei Zaitsev was charged with writing two comments about a government official, which the court considered offensive, in a telegram channel that was recognized as “extremist.” It is not reported who exactly was offended by the Vitebsk resident’s comments.
According to the prosecution, Zaitsev, while on the territory of the Russian Federation, posted a text containing a negative assessment of a government official on a Telegram channel that is recognized as “extremist.” The accused also left a similar insult to another government official in the Vitebsk region.
At the trial, Sergei admitted guilt, but noted that he did not know that the victims were government officials. It is reported that Zaitsev was previously convicted 11 times.
As a result, the Vitebsk District Court found him guilty on December 6, 2023 and sentenced him to two years and six months in prison with a fine of 50 basic units. By partial addition of the punishment imposed under this verdict and the punishment imposed by the verdict of the Pervomaisky District Court of Vitebsk dated June 2, 2023, a final sentence of imprisonment for a term of five years was imposed, with the sentence being served in a correctional colony under conditions.
5 years of imprisonment in a general regime colony.
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