Support The Moscow Times!

Russia Detains U.S.-Russian Citizen for 'Rehabilitating Nazism'

A St. George ribbon displayed alongside a Russian flag Peter Kovalev/TASS

Russian authorities have placed a man with dual U.S.-Russian citizenship in pre-trial custody for "rehabilitating Nazism," the St. Petersburg court said Saturday.

"[Yury] Malev was detained on Dec. 8... and charged the same day. He admitted partial guilt," the court said on Telegram.

Malev was charged with rehabilitation of Nazism, which carries up to five years in prison.

The court said that Malev had published two posts on social media, which desecrated the St. George ribbon, a historical symbol of Russian and Soviet military successes.

His posts "expressed obvious disrespect for society and Russia's days of military glory," the court said.

They "were an insult to the memory of the Great Patriotic War, and to the defenders of the Fatherland," it added, using the Russian term for World War II.

The first post included sexual language, while the second one featured "a photo of a corpse with instructions on 'how to wear the St. George ribbon'," the court detailed.

Malev, who holds both Russian and U.S. citizenship according to the court, was remanded in custody until Feb. 7, 2024.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more