Court fines 3 residents of Saratov region for discrediting Russian army

SARATOV. March 10 (Interfax) - The Balakovo District Court in the Saratov region has found three locals guilty of discrediting the Russian Armed Forces, the court's press service said in a statement.

"Two citizens were penalized with a 50,000-ruble administrative fine, and the third was fined 38,000 rubles," the press service said.

The court found that the three respondents held solo pickets.

The signs they were carrying were found in violation of Part 1 Article 20.3.3 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses (public actions aimed to discredit the use of the Russian Armed Forces for the protection of interests of Russia and its citizens and the provision of world peace and security), the court said.