FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual address to the Federal Assembly in Moscow, Russia, on February 21, 2023. Sputnik/Pavel Bednyakov/Kremlin via REUTERS/File Photo
A Russian regional politician will appear in court next week to face accusations that he discredited the armed forces by posting a video of himself listening to President Vladimir Putin鈥檚 state of the nation speech with spaghetti draped over his ear.
The video referred to the Russian saying that when noodles have been hung on someone鈥檚 ear, that person has been strung along or deceived.
Mikhail Abdalkin, a Communist party lawmaker in the Samara regional parliament, said on social media on Thursday that the Novokuybyshev city court would hear his case on March 7. His party had already previously reprimanded him.
鈥淲e will fight to prove our non-involvement and innocence,鈥� he added.
Since invading Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has intensified a clamp down on public dissent, establishing fines and potentially giving prison sentences for discrediting the armed forces by expressing negative opinions.
Putin鈥檚 address on February 21, which lasted almost two hours, included no major policy announcements other than suspending Russia鈥檚 participation in its last nuclear arms control treaty with the U.S.
READ: Putin accuses West of threatening Russia鈥檚 very existence with Ukraine war
When Abdalkin posted his video shortly afterwards on 鈥淰 Kontakte鈥�, Russia鈥檚 equivalent of Facebook, he added a caption saying he had been asked to watch the speech by the deputy chair of the Samara parliament.
鈥淚鈥檓 in full support, totally agree, great performance,鈥� he added. 鈥淚 haven鈥檛 heard anything like it in the last 23 years. Pleasantly surprised.鈥�