A diehard Vladmir Putin supporter has been charged with breaching a suppression order after allegedly naming an man accused of paedophilia during a ‘freedom’ rally.
Simeon Boikov, self-dubbed the ‘Aussie Cossack’, was arrested at his Breakfast Point home, in Sydney’s inner west, about 2.30pm on Monday, after allegedly publicising classified information during a protest over the weekend.
He was taken to Burwood Police Station where he was charged with recklessly contravening a suppression order, recklessly contravening a non-publication order, and using a carriage service to menace/harass/offend (aid and/or abet an offence).
The 32-year-old was refused bail and will appear at Burwood Local Court on Tuesday.
The Russian patriot allegedly broadcast the name of a man recently charged with child sex offences to thousands of people protesting Covid vaccine mandates in front of Customs House in Circular Quay on Saturday.
He then allegedly published footage of the man speaking at the event online.
Mr Boikov livestreamed his arrest on YouTube to his tens of thousands of followers on Monday and urged them to bombard the police station with calls to ‘check on his welfare’.
His devoted wife Ekaterina Boikova has since launched a fundraiser via PayPal to cover the cost of their legal fees and called on their legions of supporters to donate.
After police arrived at his home, Mr Boikov immediately filmed the encounter and posted it on social media, appealing to fans to rally behind him.
‘This is a special message, the police are outside the door. They want to arrest me,’ he says in the video.
‘This is how the police operate. People who call out the [alleged] paedophiles get attacked. This is very unacceptable.
After opening the front door, an officer informs Mr Boikov he is going to be arrested and requests he stops recording once he is taken into custody.
The Russian loyalist bickers with the officer for several minutes about his wishes to continue filming, before eventually agreeing to put his phone down and leave with the police.
‘Ok guys… I’m going to end this transmission and they are going to take me into custody,’ he said.
‘I’ll be at Burwood. You can leave your feedback and you can check on my welfare by making phone calls.
‘And if you want to assist in anyway possible, please do – because that’s what usually helps the Aussie Cossack in these situations.
The Aussie Cossack has once again been arrested for preaching the truth and speaking out, and naming those who deserve to be named.’
Myriads of fans have thrown their support against Mr Boikov on social media, with many reporting they had contacted the station.
One man from Victoria claimed police blocked his number was blocked after he made repeated calls.
In messaging app Telegram, Mrs Boikov later updated followers to thank them for their unwavering support.
‘The police are refusing to provide updates as to whether Simeon will be released from custody tonight,’ she wrote.
‘Thanks to everyone who has called Burwood Police to show their support so far – keep them coming!’
Mr Boikov was one of more than a thousand people who stormed the streets of Sydney’s CBD on Saturday waving red ensign and Eureka flags to protest against mainstream political parties.
‘The morning after the election, the Liberal Party leaders will wake up with a big hangover… that goes for Labor as well,’ he told the rally.
‘Put them last, put them seventh and eighth.. and the Greens.
‘We need to get rid of all of them.’
The self-acclaimed activist rose to infamy earlier this year for public demonstrations outside the Russian embassy in Sydney, supporting the nation’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Boikov believes president Vladimir Putin is the rightful ‘occupier’ of the country.
The 32-year-old uploaded a video in January last year calling for Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny to be sent ‘to a firing squad’ and a ‘gulag’.