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Perm Court Fines 80-Year-Old Activist for Organizing Unsanctioned Rally as Internet Curbs Deepen

The Kremlin says shutdowns protect citizens from increasingly sophisticated attacks.

Overview

  • On March 17, a Perm court found Viktor Gilin guilty of organizing an unauthorized protest and imposed a 20,000‑ruble fine.
  • Gilin was first detained on March 15 after a city-approved rally against internet blocks was abruptly revoked, and he was held overnight by police.
  • A separate case on March 16 fined him 2,000 rubles for disobeying police under Article 19.3, after which officers filed a new protocol under Article 20.2.
  • He announced a hunger strike, saying he had not eaten and only drank water, following the latest administrative actions.
  • The case unfolded as users reported widespread Telegram outages and authorities tested restrictive internet “white lists,” with Dmitry Peskov asserting the measures are necessary for public safety.