A court in Russia's Sakha-Yakutia region in Siberia fined blogger Pyotr Shepelev 10,000 rubles ($117) on June 21 for taking part in an unsanctioned rally in January. Shepelev was detained three days earlier, hours before a visit to the regional capital, Yakutsk, by President Vladimir Putin. Shepelev's lawyer said his client faced five administrative charges related to disobeying police orders and participating in unsanctioned rallies. It is not clear if the court's ruling was related to all or some charges against the blogger. Hours before his detention, Shepelev said two people appeared to be surveying his apartment block. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Siberia.Realities, click here.
Russian Blogger Fined After Being Detained Before Putin Visit To Siberia
Russian President Vladimir Putin in Yakutsk on June 18.