Activist Andrei Borovikov’s sentence (2.5 years in a general regime penal colony) for reposting Rammstein’s “Pussy” music video on vk.com was reduced by three months. The Arkhangelsk Regional Court delivered the judgment on July 15. The Setevye Svobody (‘Network Freedoms’) Project reported that.
Lawyer Alexei Kychin and Andrei Borovikov applied for the activist's personal engagement with the Court of Appeal's session. However, the court refused the request, so Borovikov participated in the process by means of videoconference. He said during the session that he hoped for an acquittal.
"Do not get upset, get ready for a long fight. We must fight for freedom and for the Wonderful Russia of the Future," the SOTA.Vision Media Outlet quoted Andrei Borovikov.
As a result, the court has reduced the sentence by three months, as it took into account that the activist had had a child. Borovikov has about two years left to spend in the colony. The lawyers intend to appeal to the Court of Appeal.
On April 29, the Lomonosovsky District Court of Arkhangelsk sentenced activist Andrei Borovikov to 2.5 years in a general regime penal colony. He was accused of distributing pornography because he posted “Pussy” music video by German band Rammstein on vk.com in 2014.
During the trial, a state accuser found the man guilty and asked to sentence him to three years in a high-security prison. Rammstein’s guitarist Richard Kruspe supported Andrei Borovikov. He said that he was shocked by the sentence’s cruelty. According to him, the band has always stood for freedom of art, which is a guarantee of fundamental rights for all people.
