Entrepreneur arrested in Moscow on suspicion of spreading false information about the sale of masks received as humanitarian aid
The Russian Investigative Committee has arrested a 38-year-old entrepreneur from Moscow, suspected of disseminating false information about the sale of masks received as humanitarian aid during the coronavirus pandemic, the department stated on its website.
According to Open Media, the entrepreneur in question is named Ekaterina Khrapchenkova. On May 9, she published a video on Facebook and TikTok about stores in Moscow selling protective masks from China, sent to Russia as humanitarian aid.
During questioning, Khrapchenkova said that “several hundred thousand” users watched the video on TikTok, but she deleted it prior to her arrest due to the large number of comments. She claims that the video remained available on Facebook.
A suspect accused of spreading false information about protective masks being brought into the office of the Investigative Committee.
Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation
Open Media notes that Khrapchenkova was actually repeating false information that appeared on the anonymous Telegram channel “Moskovskie Novosti” (“Moscow News”) at the end of April, claiming that masks sent from China as humanitarian aid were on sale in Moscow. Retailers have denied these claims.
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Article 207.1 of the Russian Criminal Code
Deliberately spreading false information about circumstances that threaten the life and safety of Russian citizens is considered criminal offense. It is punishable by fines ranging from 300,000 to 700,000 rubles (approximately $4,240 to $11,160), up to 360 hours of compulsory labor, up to year of community service, or up to three years of probation.