Russian police file charges against activist residing in Finland for organising unsanctioned rally

Russian activist Petr Trofimov, who has resided in Finland since August 2019, has been charged by the Russian police for organising an unsanctioned rally, Free Russians Global movement reports on Facebook. Information about the case was published on the website of a St. Petersburg court.

“A notice was sent to my home address in St. Petersburg, and I found the article I’m being charged under on the court’s website. My attorney scheduled a meeting to review the case files and the protocol on Wednesday. The protocol is of special interest, as it has the original documents,” Trofimov said.

According to him, the judge has already reviewed the case files. The activist has added that he currently lives in the Finnish city of Turku and that he has not held any rallies on Russian territory, even though he would have liked to.

Free Russians Global describes Trofimov as a supporter of the Vesna movement, a former member of the Open Russia organisation and an activist with the Democratic Community of Russian-Speakers in Finland.

Until he moved to Finland, Petr had taken part in several protest rallies in St. Petersburg. After the war, Trofimov has spoken out in support of Ukraine and held rallies in Finland with his fellow activists.