St. Petersburg Resident Arrested for Child Pornography on Telegram

On January 23, the Smolninsky District Court of St. Petersburg ruled to detain Alexander Zhelvitsky. He is accused of attempting to sell pornographic materials depicting minors via the Telegram messenger.

A criminal case has been initiated under two clauses of Part 2 of Article 242.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which provides for liability for the production and distribution of child pornography using the internet. Evidence was found in the suspect«s seized smartphone.

In a statement from the court«s press service, it is stated:

With the aim of finding persons interested in acquiring pornographic images of minors, including those under the age of fourteen, he uploaded a file that is material of a pornographic nature.

Zhelvitsky«s detention occurred on January 22, and charges were presented to him on the same day. The court chose a preventive measure in the form of detention until March 21.

Earlier, in the center of St. Petersburg, markings with accusations of pedophilia appeared on the doors of some buildings.