The war in Eastern Europe: Russian President Vladimir Putin is implementing for the first time the draconian law he passed. According to a report by the AP, the court in Moscow today (Friday) sentenced a member of the city council to seven years in prison, as he expressed opposition to the continued Russian fighting in Ukraine. The sentencing is a precedent in Russia, which has raised concerns among Putin’s many opponents and of the war in Ukraine.
Councilor sentenced to prison is Alexei Gorinov, who “was found guilty of knowingly disseminating false information about the Russian military,” an offense punishable by a maximum of 15 years in prison. The law, which as stated prohibits speaking out against the war in Ukraine, was passed in the Russian parliament a week after the war began. Gorinov is in his 60s, so he will be released from prison at a very late age.
According to Net Freedoms, a human rights organization that assists detainees in Russia, Gorinov is the first person in Russia to be sentenced to prison behind bars following this law. The law passed in parliament in Moscow is known as the “Day of War Law,” and in a video posted on social media, Gorinov was seen criticizing Russia’s military operations in Ukraine, things he said during a city council meeting.
So far there have been 2 who have been convicted following the law but have not received actual imprisonment but probation and monetary fines. During the hearing at the Moscow City Council meeting, a council meeting in which Gorinov was sentenced to a total of 7 years in prison, a budget approval for an art competition for children came up for discussion. A council member was seen saying in a video released that “I do not understand why this is so important, while every day children are dying in Ukraine”.
The Russian media has shown great interest in the trial, and the discussion of our case has been broadcast live on the media. During the reading of the sentence against Gorinov, who was sitting behind a glass partition, a council member stood up and waved a sign with a caption addressed to the citizens of Russia: “Do you still think we need this war?”. The policeman, who was stationed next to him, hurried to take the sign from Gorinov and hid it in his body from the media cameras.