On February 14, 2025, a Saint Petersburg court sentenced two students from Saint Petersburg State University of Telecommunications (SPbSUT) to five days in jail for shouting pro-Ukrainian slogans on campus.

The previous day, SPbSUT’s deputy vice rector for security reported the two students to the police for shouting chants, including “Glory to Ukraine.” The Ministry of Justice has included the chant in the list of extremist Nazi symbols and slogans. Police detained the two students shortly thereafter.

During the one-day trial, the court ruled that the students had violated Article 20.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, which bans publicly displaying extremist organization symbols. The individuals stated in court that their actions were intended as a joke and were done on a dare.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the prosecution of students in apparent retaliation for their nonviolent expressive activity–conduct that is expressly protected by international human rights instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Russia is a party. State authorities have an obligation to refrain from actions intended to restrict or retaliate against such conduct. In addition to the harm to the immediate victim, wrongful arrests and prosecutions in connection with nonviolent expression undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/02/14/two-st-petersburg-college-students-get-five-days-in-jail-for-shouting-ukrainian-greeting-in-a-dare
https://united24media.com/latest-news/russian-court-sentences-two-students-for-shouting-ukrainian-greeting-in-st-petersburg-5908
https://lenta.ru/news/2025/02/14/vykriknuvshih-v-universitete-proukrainskiy-lozung-rossiyskih-studentov-zaderzhali/
https://78.ru/news/2025-02-14/v-peterburgskom-universitete-zaderzhali-studentov-za-vikriki-slava-ukraine