Protestant priest Eduard Charov from the Sverdlovsk region, who offered to hide from mobilization in his shelter, was charged with «discrediting» the army (Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses). He announced this on his page on VKontakte.
The protocol was drawn up due to publications on social networks, Kommersant claims, citing a «source in law enforcement agencies.» In the posts, the man called Vladimir Putin “antichrist”, spoke out against the war in Ukraine and mobilization, and also asked conscripts not to go to the military registration and enlistment offices. In one of his publications, Charov also offered help and temporary shelter «to those who had fled from the moGilization.»
URA.RU, citing a law enforcement source, writes that in a conversation with the security forces, Charov «did not repent» and said, that he will continue to criticize the Russian government and the war in his posts.
Previously, Charov founded the «Christian Convent of Mercy» and opened Savinovo a shelter for the homeless called «For Christ's sake». It was in this shelter that he proposed to hide those who are hiding from mobilization.
In 2016, a local TV channel filmed a report about the orphanage founded by Charov
Charov belongs to the «neo-Pentecostals» — evangelical Christians, one of the largest areas of Protestantism. According to the Russian Orthodox Church, «neo-Pentecostals» are sectarians. The clergyman himself in his social networks also repeatedly criticized the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church.