In Odesa, a man with a disability was convicted for his love of communism and Russia

The Peresypskyi District Court of Odesa has found a Ukrainian citizen guilty of spreading communist symbols, glorification of Russia and violation of the equality of citizens based on their race, nationality, or region.

As it became known from the court' s verdict, in April 2022, the man welcomed the occupation of Nova Kakhovka with a photo of the occupied city and the flags of the Russian Federation and the USSR (yellow communist symbols on a red background).

He continued to make similar posts in the future. For example, on March 13, 2025, he published a photo composition of the symbols of the communist totalitarian regime, which contains a link to a public page called "The Soviet Union is my Motherland." On May 4, 2025, he commemorated the tragedy in the Trade Union Building that occurred on May 2, 2014, with a post in memory of one of the anti-Maidan protesters who died then, as well as photo compositions of red symbols of the communist totalitarian regime on a white background. On May 9, he also mentioned the victory in World War II with the use of communist symbols.

In addition, rejecting the state power in Ukraine, guided by ideological motives, in order to assist the Russian Federation and its representatives in weakening Ukraine's national interests, sovereignty and territorial integrity, to create an opinion in society about the justification and legitimacy of the actions of representatives of the authorities and officials of the armed forces of the Russian Federation regarding the invasion and occupation of the territory of the sovereign state of Ukraine, being a supporter of the aggressor country, at an unspecified time, in 2024, while at his place of residence, decided to disseminate materials on the Internet to the detriment of the foundations of national security of Ukraine.

As a result, the man was sentenced to five years in prison under a combination of articles, but the actual term was commuted to two years of probation. The court took into account his disability and sincere remorse.

Кирило Бойко