A court in the southern Russian Krasnodar region has fined a married couple 60,000 rubles (€630) for singing Ukrainian songs during a birthday party in their own home, the regional courts’ press service reported on Tuesday.
Anton and Svetlana Petrenko were found guilty of “discrediting” the Russian army and each fined 30,000 rubles (€315). The misdemeanour charges were brought against the couple after video footage emerged of them singing spiritedly in Ukrainian while celebrating the birthday of Svetlana Petrenko on 8 August.
The footage was subsequently posted by one of the Petrenkos as their personal status on a messenger app, according to the court. In the footage, the couple are heard singing the song My Narod Neskorenyi (We are Unconquered) by Ukrainian group SISTER MIX.
Realising that the footage could lead to legal trouble, Anton Petrenko recorded a video publicly apologising shortly after the event. “I am for the Russian people who are defending our country. Anyone who acts against Russia… death to all those faggots,” Petrenko said, holding an Orthodox Christian icon as he did so.
Anton Petrenko was nonetheless detained on 10 August and forced to apologise on camera again, though this time he was also made to sing the Russian national anthem by the policeman recording.
While both Petrenkos were charged with “discrediting” the Russian military, Anton Petrenko was fined a further 1,000 rubles (€10) for petty hooliganism on 11 August for “hurling abuse, insulting passersby, waving his fists and trying to cause a fight” on the day he was detained, according to the court.