Relatives considered the appeal against the penalty as the reason for Nozdrinov's placement in the punishment cell.
Colony staff placed Kuban journalist and blogger Alexander Nozdrinov in a punishment cell due to the shape of his cap. Relatives believe the real reason is the filing of a cassation appeal regarding the penalty.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", journalist and blogger from Krasnodar Krai Alexander Nozdrinov was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison for a criminal case regarding the dissemination of fake information about the army (Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation); additionally, the court prohibited him from working in the media for four years. Nozdrinov's relatives linked the persecution to his civic position and stated that the court was biased, to which the defense presented evidence of Nozdrinov's innocence. The journalist was convicted for his assistance to other people, noted his wife Ekaterina. The defense appealed Nozdrinov's sentence, stating that the first-instance court violated his right to defense and showed bias, and that the verdict was based on conclusions from an unprofessional examination. However, on February 19, the appellate court upheld the verdict, ignoring the arguments presented in the appeal by the defense. In May 2024, Nozdrinov was transferred to a colony in Khadyzhensk.
Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation contradicts the Constitution of Russia, as well as basic principles of law, human rights defenders stated ("Caucasian Knot" can provide the name of the organization upon request)*. "The wording of the article does not allow for a prior determination of which statements are lawful and which are prohibited. A citizen cannot know in advance which of their statements, which information may be considered false in this context, falling under this norm," emphasized the human rights defenders.
Political prisoner Alexander Nozdrinov, serving his sentence in IK-9 Khadyzhensk, was placed in a punishment cell today, writes the human rights project "Politzek-Info".
"This is because his cap does not conform to the shape. Although he has had this cap since 2024. This is pressure because we filed a cassation regarding the disciplinary penalty," the publication quotes the words of Alexander's relatives.
Alexander Nozdrinov, who ran the YouTube channel "Sanya Novokubansk", is recognized as a political prisoner. Earlier, on March 14, 2023, an expert Alexander Isavnin, engaged by the defense, testified in the first-instance court regarding Nozdrinov's case. In his opinion, there are grounds to believe that the evidence presented by the prosecution "shows signs of editing and forgery." The expert, in particular, found signs of editing in the screenshots of publications that formed the basis of Nozdrinov's case.