First Prosecution for Online Extremist Searches in Russia Sparks Concerns Over Surveillance and Rights Abuse

Authorities in the Sverdlovsk region of Russia have initiated the first known prosecution under a newly enacted law that punishes online searches for extremist content, as reported by local media outlets.

Sergei Glukhikh, a 20-year-old from Kamensk-Uralsky, is being charged under Article 13.53 of the Russian Administrative Code, which took effect on September 1, according to his attorney, Sergei Barsukov, who spoke to the Eurasia News Agency (EAN).

As per the local news source It’s My City, Glukhikh’s internet service provider reported him to the Federal Security Service (FSB) after he allegedly accessed prohibited materials online.

Barsukov explained that his client inadvertently encountered information regarding Ukraine’s Azov Brigade and the Russian Volunteer Corps while using the internet on public transport, clarifying that he did not actively search for these topics.

The Azov Brigade originated in 2014 as a far-right volunteer militia opposing pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine and was later restructured and integrated into Ukraine’s National Guard. Moscow has leveraged Azov’s historical extremist affiliations to justify its actions in what it refers to as the “denazification” of Ukraine.

Conversely, the Russian Volunteer Corps is a right-wing paramilitary group consisting of Russian nationals fighting alongside Ukraine, established following Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Both organizations are classified as «terrorist» groups in Russia.

Glukhikh, who is studying at a branch of the Sverdlovsk Regional Medical College, had previously participated in patriotic activities at his educational institution, according to Barsukov.

The case centers on two images and a record of interrogation, with the defense alleging that FSB officers exerted pressure on Glukhikh during the questioning process.

On Thursday, a local court returned the case to law enforcement to rectify procedural mistakes after FSB and Interior Ministry officials who were summoned for testimony failed to show up.

The law, which was signed by President Vladimir Putin in July, imposes fines for searching for or accessing extremist materials online, even through VPN services. Individuals can face penalties ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 rubles ($30 to $55), while those promoting VPN services may incur fines as high as 500,000 rubles.

The legislation does not clarify how such activities will be monitored, which has led to concerns among legal experts regarding increased surveillance and possible abuses by law enforcement agencies.

Amnesty International has also criticized the bill for being “vague and excessively broad,” cautioning that it could lead to arbitrary enforcement.