Moscow District Council Member Sentenced to 7 Years for Criticizing Ukraine Invasion
Russia Names War a 'Special Military Operation'
Using Terms Like Invasion Deemed 'Spreading Fake News' Crime
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] A district council member in Moscow, Russia, was sentenced to seven years in prison simply for criticizing the invasion of Ukraine.
According to TASS news agency on the 10th, the Moscow District Court sentenced 60-year-old council member Aleksei Gorinov on the 8th for spreading false information about the Russian military and damaging the military's credibility.
In April, Councilman Gorinov was arrested for statements such as "We must mourn the victims" and "Hostile actions are being taken against a neighboring sovereign state" regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The charges were 'criticizing the special operation' and 'spreading fake news.' Russia refers to the invasion of Ukraine not as a war but as a 'special military operation,' and Gorinov was accused of spreading fake news.
Currently, the Russian government designates the invasion of Ukraine as a 'special military operation.' Since the war began, the government has amended laws to impose up to 15 years in prison for those spreading fake news. Acts of spreading fake news include opposing the war or criticizing the government.
Gorinov became the first case sentenced to imprisonment under the amended law.
Gorinov is not the only one accused of spreading fake news after criticizing the invasion of Ukraine.
Opposition politician Ilya Yashin publicly opposed Russia's invasion of Ukraine on his Twitter in March, stating, "Russians and Ukrainians should not kill each other," and was arrested by the police.
Irina Babloyan, a host at the Echo of Moscow radio station who was with him, said, "The Moscow police arrested and took away Yashin, who was with me," adding, "We were walking in the park when they took him away."
Ilya, who revealed he was in Russia, said, "I will continue to give anti-war speeches, and if that leads me to prison, I will accept it with dignity."
A broadcasting station employee who interrupted the evening news on Russian state television to oppose the Ukraine war was also arrested by the police.
In March, Marina Ovsyannikova stormed the evening news on Russia's state Channel 1 TV holding a poster that read "No War."
Ovsyannikova was released after 14 hours of detention and investigation, ordered to pay a fine of 260 euros (approximately 300,000 KRW). However, with the Russian government drafting amendments allowing criminal punishment for war-related fake news, she faces the risk of years in prison.
Political commentator Tatiana Stanovaya said the authorities are sending warnings to opponents.
She stated, "Using the term 'war' has become a thorn in the side of the authorities," adding, "Political figures like Gorinov making such statements will be considered akin to terrorist acts and will face long prison sentences."
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