Key facts
- A Czech man, Michal Plaminek, protested on Red Square against Russia's war in Ukraine.
- Plaminek held a poster discrediting Russia's armed forces.
- He was fined and sentenced to 13 days in custody by a Moscow court.
- The protest occurred near President Vladimir Putin's Kremlin residence.
- Plaminek reportedly resisted arrest.
A Czech national, Michal Plaminek, has been fined and sentenced to 13 days in custody for staging a solo protest on Moscow's Red Square against Russia's war in Ukraine. The Moscow court stated that Plaminek held up a poster in English that discredited Russia's armed forces, an offense under censorship laws enacted after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Violating these laws typically results in an initial fine, but repeat offenders can face criminal trials and lengthy prison sentences. The court also noted that Plaminek's protest on Sunday was illegal due to its proximity to President Vladimir Putin's Kremlin residence and that he resisted arrest. A Facebook page associated with Plaminek showed a photo of him in front of St. Basil's Cathedral on Red Square on Sunday, though no poster was visible. Other posts on the profile expressed support for Ukraine and urged Western countries to unite against Russia.