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Russian student jailed after renaming Wi-Fi with pro-Ukraine slogan

Moscow court found him guilty of displaying ‘symbols of extremist organisations’
A file photo of Moscow State University’s main building. AFP
A file photo of Moscow State University’s main building. AFP

A court sentenced a Moscow State University student to 10 days in jail in the capital city after renaming his Wi-Fi router with a pro-Ukraine slogan, Russian media reported.

It found him guilty of displaying “symbols of extremist organisations” on Thursday. He had titled the network “Slava Ukraini!” which means “Glory to Ukraine!”.

Russia’s RIA identified the student as Oleg Tarasov.

The varsity student was arrested on Wednesday in Moscow after a police officer had reported the network name to authorities.

Officers inspected his room within the student accommodation, and found his personal computer and a Wi-Di router, court documents said.

The court stated that he had used the network to “promote the slogan ‘Slava Ukraini!’ to an unlimited number of users within Wi-Fi range.” The router has now been confiscated.

The slogan has become a rallying cry for supporters of Ukraine and is regularly heard chanted during protests against Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The student was found guilty of “public demonstration of Nazi symbolism… or symbols of extremist organisations”.

Over 260 people are behind bars in Russia for crimes related to taking an anti-war stance, according to Russian human rights group OVD-Info. It has recorded more than 20,000 detentions.

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