You can get fined (or even criminally charged) for a Greenpeace T-shirt

Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office labeled Greenpeace an “undesirable organization” in Russia, stating that “from the beginning RF on the demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine, Greenpeace activists conduct anti-Russian propaganda, calling for further economic isolation of our country and tougher sanctions.

Now, as for the logo of the organization, for example, on a T-shirt, bag or cap, it can be attracted under article 20.33 of the Code of Administrative Offensesexplains Anastasia Burakova, a lawyer in matters related to the protection of freedom of speech and the founder of the Arka organization. adds it the prohibition of “dissemination of information materials of an “undesirable” organization, as well as the production or storage of such materials for distribution” is established by Federal Law-272. This means that keeping a Greenpeace hat at home can also be considered a violation.

According to Art. 20.33 of the Code of Administrative Offenses for ordinary citizens – individuals – a fine of 5 to 15 thousand rubles is provided.

However, in the case of a triple violation of this principle, criminal liability results from Art. 284 § 1 of the Penal Code on participation in an undesirable organization. It can impose a fine of up to half a million rubles or forced labor.

Anastasia Burakova adds that the time of creation of the material (a post on a social networking site, a bag or a notebook with a logo) does not matter, the established practice of Art. “Following the logic of the prosecution, if the information material is publicly available, its distribution continues,” he says. “Thus, activists of the Russian organization Open Russia have repeatedly attracted the presence and use of symbols and logos that were published long before the organization of the same name was entered in the register of undesirables.”

In recent years, Greenpeace has not sold items with the logo in Russia, but has given branded gifts to those who donate and help the organization. The organization was unable to quickly estimate for The Moscow Times the number of such items produced in Russia. However, Greenpeace has been operating in Russia since the early 1990s, and during that time thousands of hats, T-shirts, notebooks and eco-bags with the organization’s logo appeared in the country.

However, Burakova believes penalties for the Greenpeace logo will be more likely to occur on social networks, and people wearing branded items may not be affected by the practice. “In practice, such complex paths are unlikely to be sought,” he says. The simplest – [оштрафовать] for a repost or post with symbols or a link to logo materials, including old ones. It’s easier to go in and take a screenshot than to run buses for summer residents, [которые носят кепку «Гринпис», полученную на эко-акции 15 лет назад].

Greenpeace has been operating in Russia since the 1990s and deals with environmental issues in Russia. In particular, the organization helps in the fight against forest fires: it develops the volunteer movement, conducts training for employees of national parks and reserves, and proposes the necessary changes in the law. For example, Greenpeace has called for conservation reform in nature areas to fight fires more effectively.

After declaring an undesirable organization, Greenpeace stopped operating in Russia. “This decision makes it illegal for Greenpeace to continue operating in Russia. Therefore, the Russian branch of Greenpeace is forced to close. <…> The liquidation of Greenpeace in Russia is an absurd, irresponsible and destructive step that has nothing to do with protecting the country’s interests,” the organization said in a statement.