In Russia, at least 114 criminal cases related to donations to the Anti-Corruption Foundation have already been initiated after the organization was recognized as «extremist» in the summer of 2021, calculated «Mediazona»** based on data from open sources.
Cases regarding FBK donations have been recorded in 49 regions of Russia, with most cases initiated in Moscow (17 instances), followed by the Krasnodar region with 11 cases. In the Sverdlovsk region, there are seven cases, and six in the Kaliningrad region.
Courts have received 88 cases regarding FBK donations, with 79 convictions known. More than 80% of the accused received penalties not related to imprisonment: these are fines (56 cases), suspended sentences (8 cases). In one case, compulsory labor was assigned. 14 people were sentenced to actual terms, including three in absentia. Most actual terms — 9 convictions — were handed down in Moscow.
The Moscow City Court declared FBK an extremist organization in June 2021, and on August 4, this decision came into force. The next day, the foundation launched a new fundraising campaign through the American service Stripe. On the first day of the new campaign, part of the FBK website address — world.fbk.in — appeared in statements in Russian banks. Now, law enforcement relies on information from Russian banks in their investigation.
* Recognized in Russia as an «extremist» organization.
** Recognized in Russia as a «foreign agent».