A St. Petersburg court has pressed misdemeanor charges against the son of a Leningrad siege survivor who is running to unseat the pro-Kremlin incumbent governor of Russia’s second-largest city, local media reported Friday.
Denis Vasilyev is accused of “discrediting” the Russian military through posts on VKontakte. He faces fines up to 50,000 rubles if found guilty, following a previous 30,000 ruble fine under similar charges in October 2022.
Vasilyev, the son of Lyudmila Vasilyeva, a veteran activist and candidate for governor, lives in exile but remains a local deputy in St. Petersburg. His mother faces challenges to gather signatures for her candidacy amid political restrictions.
The court did not disclose specifics of Vasilyev’s posts, but the case highlights tensions ahead of the upcoming election in St. Petersburg. Despite obstacles, the Vasilyev family remains determined to challenge the status quo in Russian politics.