A Moscow court has extended the arrest of blogger Arsen Markaryan, who was detained in August, by two months. According to the press service of Moscow's courts of general jurisdiction, Markaryan is charged with insulting the memory of defenders of the Fatherland (Part 4, Article 354.1 of the Russian Criminal Code).
Investigators allege that the blogger, by posting materials online, called for drone attacks on Russian territory, supported the Ukrainian army, and made negative comments about participants in the "special operation." Markaryan's defense previously petitioned to change his pretrial detention to house arrest, citing the defendant's remorse and willingness to cooperate with the investigation.
Article 354.1 of the Criminal Code provides for punishment for the "rehabilitation of Nazism." In practice, it criminalizes critical statements about wars, the Soviet and Russian authorities, and many other actions.
