two new ordinary citizens sentenced in cases related to Ukraine

2 mins

This is further proof that from now on, no one is safe in Russia since the simple fact of denouncing this conflict can lead to firm prison sentences. Dmitri Skourikhine, a 48-year-old entrepreneur, was the subject of two criminal investigations. The first for having affixed posters denouncing the offensive in Ukraine on the front of her store. And the second for a sign where the Russian had written ” Ukraine: forgive us “.

But since the start of the conflict, these facts have been reprehensible and have led a court in the Leningrad region to sentence Dmitri Skourikhine to a year and a half in prison for having discredited the Russian army. This sentence is part of the laws promulgated by Vladimir Putin after the start of the special operation in February 2022 and which restrict freedoms.

600 people involved in criminal cases

The other citizen sentenced this Thursday, August 3 is a 19-year-old Russian, residing in Siberia. He is prosecuted for treason, because he would have tried to illegally cross the Russian border to join the enemy “. The Kursk court sentenced him to six years in prison. These sentences are intended to be exemplary and are often pronounced behind closed doors. This was the case for this young boy.

Russia has been facing a wave of repression for years, but this has taken on greater proportions with the start of the offensive in Ukraine in February 2022. Condemnations are starting to pile up. Almost all strong opponents were imprisoned or driven into exile. And they would be thousands of Russians to have already been sentenced, knowing that according to the NGO OVD-Info, more than 600 people are currently targeted by criminal cases, because of their opposition to the conflict in Ukraine.

Read alsoRussia: citizens on a spy hunt

(With AFP)