A Moscow man who dyed his hair in colors resembling the Ukrainian flag found himself in hot water with Russian authorities.
The court fined Stanislav Netesov, accusing him of discrediting the army. This is reported by Moscow Times.
Stanislav Netesov never imagined a trip to the police station would land him in court.
After being attacked at a bus stop, Netesov went to report the crime. Instead of receiving assistance, he was charged with "discrediting the army" because of his brightly colored hair, which featured green, blue, and yellow stripes.
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Court’s Unusual Accusation
The Tverskoy District Court claimed Netesov's hairstyle demonstrated a "negative attitude towards the Russian Armed Forces."
Despite Netesov's assertion that his hair had nothing to do with Ukraine and that he had been sporting bright colors since 2017, the court remained unmoved.
He was found guilty of "public actions aimed at discrediting the use of the Russian army" and fined 50,000 rubles ($550).
Netesov’s Defense
Netesov told the rights group OVD-Info that the colorful hair was coincidental.
He maintained that he didn't support either Russia or Ukraine in the conflict.
His defense highlighted a broader issue of how even seemingly benign personal choices can be interpreted as political statements in today's Russia.
Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the country has enacted several strict laws. Any expression of dissatisfaction with Russia's actions in Ukraine is punishable, even if it involves something as personal as hair color, which one might have had years before the war started.
