The human rights organizations Department One, OVD-Info, and the Moscow Helsinki Group announced plans to hold a joint charity auction to benefit Russians facing prosecution for allegedly “discrediting” the Russian army and spreading “disinformation” about it.
Buyers will be able to bid on prizes and awards won by various well-known artists, writers, musicians, and journalists, including actor Ralph Fiennes, political scientist Yekaterina Shulman, writer Boris Akunin, and director Kirill Serebrennikov. Also up for grabs will be a portrait of former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev painted by U2 lead singer Bono, a drum machine from the Russian electronic music duo AIGEL, and an illustration from a book by Boris Akunin signed by both the author and the illustrator.
The auction will be held on September 26.
more on russia's 'discrediting' law
- Russian pop legend Alla Pugacheva under investigation for ‘discrediting’ Russian army
- Multiple Russian voters charged with ‘discrediting' the army after writing anti-war slogans on ballots
- Police draw up reports of ‘discrediting’ the army against St. Petersburg deputies who accused Putin of treason
- Team behind Novaya Gazeta’s new magazine charged with ‘discrediting’ the Russian army
- Outspoken antiwar politician and former Yekaterinburg mayor Evgeny Roizman charged with felony ‘discrediting the military,’ could face up to five years in prison