Simeon Boikov, ‘Aussie Cossack’ charged after naming alleged sex offender in a livestreamed protest

A notorious YouTuber and Pro-Putin activist has allegedly breached court orders by naming an accused sex offender, with his supporters protesting outside a court today. Watch his arrest.

A notorious Pro-Putin YouTuber has appeared in Burwood Local Court today after being arrested for breaching court orders during a protest on Sunday.

Simeon Boikov, a 32-year-old man known online as Aussie Cossack, live streamed his arrest on Tuesday afternoon, after which he was taken to Burwood Police Station and denied bail before a magistrate.

The YouTube video Boikov posted of his arrest was shown in Burwood Local Court, along with videos of the offences, which took place during a ‘Freedom March’ protest on May 15.

In the arrest video, Boikov said he was being arrested for sharing the name of a person which was under a non-publication and suppression order.

Documents tendered into court by NSW Police reveal that Boikov was explicitly warned not to share the name of the person under suppression, and non-publication orders.

The Aussie Cossack Simeon Boikov pictured outside Downing Centre Courts, Sydney CBD. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Damian Shaw

At Sunday’s rally, Boikov explicitly acknowledged the non-publication orders and suppression orders before breaking them.

“Should I say his name?” Boikov asked the crowd before committing the offences.

In the video of his arrest, Boikov asked his supporters, who showed up in large numbers at court, to make complaints to Burwood police station.

Police said that the station was inundated with hundreds of phone calls, requiring them to move additional officers to field calls, stopping them from doing their duties, and answering other calls from the public.

Boikov’s supporters gathered outside the courthouse, armed with a megaphone, protesting his innocence, and railing against Covid health measures.

He was charged with recklessly contravening a suppression order; recklessly contravening a non-publication order; and using a carriage service to menace/harass/offend.

The third charge has been withdrawn, while Boikov has pleaded guilty to contravening the suppression and non-publication orders.

It’s the third set of alleged offences from Boikov in 2022, having also been charged after gatecrashing a campaign event by Fiona Reid MP, and allegedly refusing to undertake a drug test when pulled over by police.

Boikov’s case was heard by Magistrate Andrew Miller, who was scathing in his assessment of the objective seriousness of the offences.

“This is his deliberate decision to breach an order of this court, showing contempt for an order made by this court,” Magistrate Miller said.

Both the offending videos were still available online during the court proceedings, with Boikov’s lawyer telling the court his client was unable to delete them without access to his phone, and arguing that he should be granted bail to do so.

Magistrate Miller likened the request to blackmail.

“It is an attempt to blackmail, objectively,” Magistrate Miller said.

“I’ll make sure it’s removed, only if I’m released from custody.”

Boikov was denied bail, and a sentencing report was ordered by Magistrate Miller, with the case set to return to court for sentencing on June 20.