"Sorokin SPICh" is a Nizhny Novgorod Telegram channel of the journalist Aleksandr Pichugin, which he ran in parallel with his main channel "Sorokin Khvost."[2] The channel became well known in April 2020, when it was there that Pichugin commented on his detention in a criminal case over the dissemination of knowingly false information.[1]

Background

On April 12, 2020, a post appeared on "Sorokin Khvost" claiming that there were people infected with the coronavirus who were deliberately going out into crowded places. The next day Pichugin deleted the post, but at least 717 subscribers had managed to view it.[2] On the evening of April 16, the journalist was detained at his home, in front of his young son and pregnant wife. He later described the post as "harsh sarcasm."[2]

Pichugin published his reaction to what had happened on "Sorokin SPICh": "It seems I have been granted the great honor of becoming the first person in Nizhny Novgorod Region to be charged in a case over spreading fakes about the coronavirus. Sometimes the Governor's call to find some special words to keep people at home can have unexpected consequences. Here I, for example, was kneeling in my own home the evening before, feeling a chokehold on my neck and handcuffs on my wrists."[1]

Criminal case

The criminal case against Pichugin was opened under Article 207.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Public dissemination of knowingly false information about circumstances posing a threat to the life and safety of citizens"), which was added to the Criminal Code effective April 1, 2020. It was the first criminal case of this category in Russia brought against a journalist.[1] The owner of the channel was identified by the Nizhny Novgorod office of the FSB.[1] The case went to the Bogorodsk City Court for consideration; in it Pichugin also appeared as the founder and director of the news agency "Otkrytyy Nizhniy."[2] The penalty under the article provided for a fine of 300,000 to 700,000 rubles, compulsory labor of up to 360 hours, corrective labor of up to one year, or restriction of freedom of up to three years.[2]

Sources

  1. V gorode N — A criminal case has been opened against Nizhny Novgorod journalist Aleksandr Pichugin for false information on a Telegram channel (archive)
  2. lenizdat.ru — The journalist's sarcasm will be assessed by the court › — Lenizdat.ru (archive)
Materials from the articles were used (3)

Work in progress, Pichugin Aleksandr Vladimirovich, Sorokin's tail