Moscow elected official Alexei Gorinov was sentenced to seven years in prison on Friday July 8 for denouncing the Russian assault on Ukraine, in the midst of a wave of repression to silence any criticism of the offensive decided by Vladimir Putin.
Judge Olessia Mendeleïeva convicted the 60-year-old defendant of having “disseminated clearly false information” on the Russian army using “his official duties” and to have done so as part of an organized group motivated by “political hatred”.
Alexei Gorinov had, during a session of the city council in mid-March, described the conflict in Ukraine as « guerre »and no “special military operation”, as the official terminology dictates. Asking his colleagues for a minute of silence, the MP also mentioned the death of children in Ukraine, which, according to the judge, does not correspond to the information provided by the Russian Ministry of Defense in its daily press briefings.
Investigators also accused Mr. Gorinov of calling Russia “fascist state” but the prosecution’s own experts concluded during the trial that those words were not spoken. On the other hand, the judge insisted on the fact that the opinion of the deputy on the conflict had been forged “through group discussions”which makes it possible to put forward a conspiracy.
“Do you still need this war? »
“The recovery of the accused is impossible without a penalty of deprivation of liberty”, estimated the magistrate before condemning him to seven years of detention in a penal colony. This trained lawyer, elected independent deputy in 2017, will then be banned from exercising public functions for another four years.
Alexeï Gorinov had appeared at this last audience, in his glass cage, brandishing a sign: “Do you still need this war? “. The police positioned themselves to hide it.
On July 7, during its traditional “last words” at court, he notably launched: “War is the fastest instrument of human dehumanization. When the line between good and evil blurs, the result is always death. I will not accept it. » He also challenged the judges:
“It is already the fifth month of war. We are promised victory and glory, but then why do many of my fellow citizens feel shame and guilt? Boutcha, Irpine, Hostomel, do these names mean anything to you? »
Before his sentence was pronounced, the public at the trial applauded the defendant, leading to the expulsion from the room of those who had come to support him. When the verdict was announced, his wife, in tears, asked him not to answer any letters she wrote to him. “so as not to waste too much time”.
Thousands of open cases in Russia
Since February 24, the date of the entry of Russian forces into Ukraine, the authorities have passed a series of laws punishing up to fifteen years in prison those who publicly disapprove of this attack. Thousands of cases have already been opened with regard to “spreading false information” or of “discredit” armed forces. However, the vast majority of convictions are limited to fines. The verdict against Mr. Gorinov is the harshest to date.
During a conference given on July 6 in Paris, the head of the human rights branch of the Memorial organization, dissolved in Russia, drew a parallel with the 1960s and 1970s in the Soviet Union: at the time, to avoid Stalinist mass repressions, heavy sentences were given to a few individuals only, with the value of an example; other opponents or dissidents were given only administrative penalties, but with the permanent threat of a heavier sentence, via the opening of a criminal case, whether in the event of a repeat offense or simple political changes.
Other opponents await judgment
Mr. Gorinov is the first opponent, an elected member moreover, to receive a prison sentence for his positions against Russian intervention in Ukraine, but other activists are currently awaiting trial in detention.
This verdict also comes in the context of preparations for municipal elections in Moscow in September. Incumbent MPs and moderate opposition figures, who were previously considered loyal, are removed through various legal procedures. Another municipal deputy, Elena Kotenotchkina, is accused of the same facts, but she is not tried because she fled Russia, like many opposition activists because of the repression which has increased further in recent months.
Vladimir Kara-Mourza, one of the few opposition figures who remained in Russia, also faces a heavy prison sentence. Arrested in mid-April in Moscow and sentenced to fifteen days in prison for “disobeying the police”, he was prosecuted for “disseminating false information” about the Russian army, an offense punishable by fifteen years in prison. A well-known face of the opposition to Vladimir Putin, Ilia Iachine, 38, already sentenced to fifteen days in prison for the same reason, also fears heavier prosecutions.
Another example is that of Alexandra Skotchilenko, an artist from Saint Petersburg who has been imprisoned since April and is awaiting trial for sticking pacifist labels in a supermarket.
This week, Parliament again adopted a series of texts providing for heavy prison sentences in very vague language to repress calls to act against its security or cooperation “confidential” with strangers.
Since February, Russia has also blocked many Russian and foreign media on its territory, as well as some of the biggest social networks, such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.