On June 23, the Novovyatsky District Court in Kirov fined entrepreneur and activist Alexander Avdeev 330,000 rubles for financing extremism and obstructing an investigation (Part 1 of Article 282.3 and Part 2 of Article 294 of Russia's Criminal Code), Kirov activist Maria Rouz told 7x7.
Alexander Avdeev was accused of donating less than 200 rubles to the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK). The charge of obstructing the investigation was reportedly brought because Avdeev attempted to destroy his phone. Prosecutors had requested a fine of 400,000 rubles.
In April, security forces searched Avdeev’s home but did not place him under any pretrial restrictions. Only near the end of the investigation was he placed under a travel restriction.
In 2022, the independent outlets Mediazona and The New Tab published a story about Alexander Avdeev, who spoke out against the war in his hometown of Kirov. Among other things, the entrepreneur placed leaflets in his own stores condemning Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As a result, he faced hostility from some people around him. That same year, as well as in previous years, Avdeev took part in anti-war and anti-corruption protests.