The Harju District Court found Konstantin Gorlov, a resident of Tallinn, guilty of justifying an international crime posted on the social network TikTok. Gorlov was fined 800 euros for this.
During the trial, it was found that on August 18, 2024, Gorlov displayed symbols associated with an act of aggression and genocide in a live broadcast on the social network TikTok. It is about an element of the coat of arms of the Russian Federation.
During a conversation with another person about the annexation of Ukrainian territories to Russia, Gorlov had the flag of the Spartak Moscow soccer club in the background. This flag depicted an element of the coat of arms of the Russian Federation - a two-headed golden eagle. The eagle also bore a small emblem of FC Spartak Moscow.
The court considered that the two-headed eagle was immediately visible and recognizable.
Gorlov was fined 800 euros for this act. Defense costs remain on the accused.
The court terminated the proceedings on two episodes due to the absence of corpus delicti.
The Court found that the two images and the video with background music referred to in the indictment did not constitute an offense, as on their basis it could not be alleged that there was justification or support for an act of aggression or genocide.
The court also explained that publication of materials in the case without the court's authorization is prohibited. Therefore, Gorlov should immediately remove the post and the published comments of the witnesses from social networks...
The court's decision has not yet entered into legal force. The parties have the opportunity to appeal to the Tallinn District Court within 15 days from the moment the parties receive the full court decision, i.e. until March 25, 2025.
During the trial, it was found that on August 18, 2024, Gorlov displayed symbols associated with an act of aggression and genocide in a live broadcast on the social network TikTok. It is about an element of the coat of arms of the Russian Federation.
During a conversation with another person about the annexation of Ukrainian territories to Russia, Gorlov had the flag of the Spartak Moscow soccer club in the background. This flag depicted an element of the coat of arms of the Russian Federation - a two-headed golden eagle. The eagle also bore a small emblem of FC Spartak Moscow.
The court considered that the two-headed eagle was immediately visible and recognizable.
Gorlov was fined 800 euros for this act. Defense costs remain on the accused.
The court terminated the proceedings on two episodes due to the absence of corpus delicti.
The Court found that the two images and the video with background music referred to in the indictment did not constitute an offense, as on their basis it could not be alleged that there was justification or support for an act of aggression or genocide.
The court also explained that publication of materials in the case without the court's authorization is prohibited. Therefore, Gorlov should immediately remove the post and the published comments of the witnesses from social networks...
The court's decision has not yet entered into legal force. The parties have the opportunity to appeal to the Tallinn District Court within 15 days from the moment the parties receive the full court decision, i.e. until March 25, 2025.