Russian judiciary: Eight and a half years in prison for Muscovites after war criticism
Russian judiciary
Eight and a half years in prison for Moscow after war criticism
Anyone who criticizes Putin or his war in Ukraine risks lengthy sentences in one of Russia’s notorious prison camps. (Picture from St. Petersburg) photo
© Dmitri Lovetsky/AP/dpa
Dmitri Ivanov had repeatedly criticized the Ukraine invasion on Telegram – and spoke of war crimes. His supporters are certain: many Russians share the 23-year-old’s views.
A Moscow court has sentenced an anti-war activist to eight and a half years in prison. He had been charged with allegedly false news about of Russia Army to have spread in Ukraine. The procedure had been criticized as politically motivated.
The 23-year-old scientist Dmitri Ivanov had openly criticized the Russian invasion in his Telegram channel. Ivanov had also accused the Russian army of war crimes, for example in Bucha near the Ukrainian capital of Kiev. Hundreds of bodies had been found there, some with their hands tied behind their backs.
Despite thousands of documented acts of violence, Russia denies war crimes in Bucha or committed elsewhere. Anyone in Russia who criticizes the war ordered by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin as a crime and who damages the reputation of the Russian army risks lengthy imprisonment in prison camps.
Supporters: Many in Russia share Ivanov’s criticism
Ivanov’s followers, his Telegram-channel Protestny MGU (English: Protesting Moscow State University), called for support for the activist. “Dima Ivanov is sitting for speaking his opinion about the war, which many in Russia share,” the verdict said.
The qualified mathematician and programmer had been involved in civil society for years and, after the war began on February 24 last year, came out as a harsh critic of the invasion.
