Alexei Gorinov, a Moscow municipal deputy and a lawyer who has criticized the war in Ukraine, was sentenced this Friday to seven years in prison by the Russian justice. This is, to date, the longest sentence under the new law against freedom of the press in Russia.
Alexei Gorinov faces this sanction for having stated, in a municipal meeting, that “all efforts of civil society” should “aim to stop the war and withdraw Russian troops from Ukrainian territory””, reports The Guardian. This statement was considered by the Russian justice as “fueled by political hatred”.
The trial of the Moscow municipal deputy accused of spreading false information for opposing the war begins
This is clearly a politically motivated decision to scare the public and promote silence,” said Tanya Lokshina, Europe and Central Asia manager at Humans Right Watch. “This shameful sentence is clearly intended to deter Russians from speaking out against the war and expressing any form of discontent.”
During the reading of the sentence this Friday, and inside a glass compartment, Alexei Gorinov held up a sign that read: “Do you still need this war?”
Source: Observadora
