2
Is Meduza banned from reading now?
Fortunately, no one forbids reading Meduza. At least for now.
But some other types of interaction with the publication (for example, disseminating links to our materials or funding the editorial office with donations) may result in persecution by the Russian authorities. In most cases, at first it will be considered an administrative offense and only then a criminal offense.
3
Let’s take a look at social media. Can’t you post Meduza? What about old posts? Can you like? Or is it better to unsubscribe from you everywhere?
If you are in Russia or plan to travel there, all reposts of our materials are really better delete – to protect yourself as much as possible.
It doesn’t matter when you made them. Publishing on the Internet is a so-called “continuing” offence. That is, the statute of limitations in this case is not considered from the moment of publication, but from the moment when law enforcement agencies claim to have found your post (regardless of when they found it in reality). This means that you can even be fined for reposting Meduza eight years ago.
Likes and comments are not so bad. “Participation in the activities” of an “undesirable” organization, for which the Russian authorities are punished, of course, can be interpreted as broadly as possible. But so far, not a single administrative or criminal case has been opened in Russia for likes or comments on the social networks of an “undesirable” organization – or for subscribing to it.
Therefore, right now we assess the risks associated with likes, comments and subscriptions to our social networks as minimal. That is no need to unsubscribe from Meduza or stop tagging us on instagram. There is no need to search and destroy old comments either.
4
How is it punished for publishing a link to an article by an “undesirable” organization? Have there been such cases?
For the first time, you will be fined for “participation in activities” in the amount of five to 15 thousand rubles – there is a separate one for this.
The following violations threatened with criminal charges. Punishment under Article 284.1 of the Criminal Code – imprisonment up to four years, but they can also be sentenced to compulsory labor, restriction of liberty or a fine of up to 500 thousand rubles.
Russians receive administrative fines for participating in the activities of “undesirable” organizations quite often – “OVD-info” list such cases. There are also cases of criminal prosecution: for example, the case against the former director of Open Russia (of course, “undesirable”) Andrei Pivovarov started because of the Facebook post.
5
Social media is understandable. And besides them there are some dangerous places?
Yes. These are hyperlinks to our materials on your websites, for example, in a portfolio or in a scientific work.
Roskomnadzor considers hyperlinks as “a way to distribute content”, so they are just as dangerous as reposts. Better to remove them.
6
What about donations? Also, first a fine, and then a criminal case?
No. Unfortunately, for the transfer of money to an “undesirable” organization can start a criminal case from the first time. In this case, the maximum penalty is five years in prison. The good news is that there have been no such cases so far.
And one more piece of good news: back in the spring of 2022, Meduza completely turned off payments from Russia. If you transferred money to us from a Russian card, your subscription was automatically cancelled.
7
And calling you to donate is also dangerous?
Unfortunately yes. Calls to donate to Meduza could theoretically be considered fundraising, which is also a crime. therefore if you called to support us before and told how to do it (including links to our campaigns), it is better to remove such posts from social networks.
8
And for past transfers, something threatens me?
Fortunately, no. Unlike reposts, donations become a crime only after the organization has been declared “undesirable”.
If you donated to Meduza a year ago, or even on January 25, 2023, you do not fall under the article on financing an “undesirable” organization. At the same time, transfers made after the entry into force of the decision may become a reason for criminal prosecution.
9
Can you donate from abroad?
If you remain a Russian citizen, it is better to cancel any payments, even from foreign cards (although if it is a Western bank card, it will be difficult for the Russian authorities to find out about your donations). Those who are going to go to Russia should be especially careful.
But it is possible and necessary to tell foreign friends that Meduza needs support. Now this is more important than ever.
10
Is it also forbidden to publish screenshots and distribute PDF versions of materials?
Unfortunately yes.
Both screenshots and printed PDFs are easily considered “informational materials”, and their distribution is directly forbidden federal Russian law. The principle is the same: first an administrative offense, then a criminal case.
We will keep the option to print our texts in PDF, but please be very careful. For example, if you still want to share them with someone, make sure that the security forces do not find out about it (for more information on how to print our texts, read here).
11
Let’s bring the situation to the point of absurdity. If I retell an article from Meduza to someone at a party, and someone denounces me, can I be punished?
Theoretically, this is possible, but in practice, such a risk tends to zero, says Galina Arapova, founder of the Media Rights Protection Center.
To search for and fix reposts, Roskomnadzor eat long established system. Talking at a party is a much more complicated situation; and even if someone denounces you, it is unlikely that the police officers will be motivated to spend a lot of effort to fine you 15 thousand rubles.
12
Is it still possible to email Meduza? And answer your questions when you ask me to talk about something?
Can. But if you are concerned about your safety, please indicate in your message that we keep you anonymous. Of course we will.
If you offer us a topic for investigation or share other useful information, it is better to choose the most secure communication channel.
The Russian authorities may well consider such assistance as “participation in the activities” of an “undesirable” organization if they get access to your correspondence. Lawyers interviewed by Meduza believe that in this case, it will be much easier for law enforcement agencies to prove your guilt than after liking or commenting on Instagram.
14
What about letters from Meduza – can I forward them to someone?
You can. As well as letters from friendly, but not related to Meduza mailing lists, these are, for example, Kit or Signal.
Of course, the vague wording with “participation in activities” in this case may also become a reason for an administrative case. But in reality, the police must first get access to your correspondence – again, they are unlikely to be ready to spend energy on this for the sake of an administrative protocol.
If you want to play it safe, give up Russian mail services such as Mail.ru and Yandex (although there are many other reasons not to use them).
15
Maybe the Meduza app should also be removed?
Not worth it. For the installed application, you definitely do not face anything. Moreover, we ask you to tell your friends (in personal correspondence and oral conversations) about our application: among other things, it successfully bypasses the lock.
People who want to receive reliable news about the situation in Russia and the world should also subscribe to our telegram channel, instagram, youtube – and mailing lists “Whale” and “Signal”.
16
Can I wear your merch if I’m in Russia? Should I peel off the sticker with the Meduza logo from the laptop too?
We do not know. Displaying the symbols of an “undesirable” organization may be considered “participation in its activities.” There have been no administrative and criminal cases related to the merch yet, but there have been cases related to the demonstration of other symbols.
But the distribution of things with the symbols of an “undesirable” organization is a much more risky business. True, and for this they have not yet been punished.
17
And if they detain me and they see that I am reading your materials, will they punish me?
Should not. There were no such cases either.
Unless, of course, you have a stack of our printed materials with you. Otherwise, you may be suspected, for example, of “holding materials” of an “undesirable” organization “for distribution purposes.” And it’s straight forbidden by law
18
Has the decision of the Prosecutor General’s Office already entered into force or do I have time to prepare?
Decision takes effect after publication in the “Rossiyskaya Gazeta” updated list of “undesirable” organizations.
So far there has been no such publication. This means that there is no need to panic – you have time to prepare and remove all materials that could create problems.
19
Can you be supported safely – so that no one will know about it for sure?
Yes, this can be done with an anonymous cryptocurrency such as Monero or Zcash.
Thanks to anonymous transactions, no one, in principle, will be able to find out who made the transfer. Cryptocurrency is still not banned in Russia. In the material below, we tell you how to use it, even if you have never had a cryptocurrency and you have no idea what it is and how it works.
Petr Sapozhnikov and Denis Dmitriev