September 30, 2026

Czech Jailed for Protest


Czech Jailed for Protest
A Czech citizen staged a short-lived solo protest on Red Square against Russia’s war on Ukraine. The Russian Life files. 

On the afternoon of September 20, Michal Plamenek, a Czech citizen, staged a solo protest on Moscow’s Red Square. He held a sign in front of Lenin’s mausoleum and was promptly arrested. 

Russian media has conveniently not published information regarding the specific contents of Plamenek’s poster. The lack of publicity is almost certainly intentional — media attention likely being what Plamenek intended to capture. 

According to Russian media sources, the English-language sign was aimed at “discrediting” the Russian army, which is a punishable offense. He was hit with a R40,000 fine for his discrediting actions, and another R20,000 for violating the established picketing procedure (totaling around $700). 

In addition to the fines, a Moscow court sentenced Plamenek to 13 days in jail. It found that Plamenek disobeyed a police officer’s request to go to the police station and resisted arrest. Security around Red Square and the adjacent Kremlin is stringent, especially considering that September 20 marked the last day of voting for the State Duma elections.

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