In 2022, he was the first convicted in Russia for denouncing the assault on Ukraine, punishable by seven years in prison. Russian opponent Alexei Gorinov was sentenced to three more years for “advocating terrorism” on Friday, November 29. “I am in favor of peace, but you like war”This 63-year-old Moscow municipal councilor told the judge after hearing the verdict, according to independent media. media areaspecialized in covering repression in Russia.
In July 2022, the opponent of Vladimir Putin’s regime was the first person sentenced to prison for “spreading false information” about the Russian army, after having denounced “Ongoing military aggression in Ukraine” during a city council meeting on March 15, broadcast on YouTube. This, under an article of the penal code that came into force a few weeks after the attack on Ukraine in February 2022 and that has since been used by Vladimir Putin’s regime to silence any criticism of the conflict.
In this new case, Gorinov was tried for having conversations with other inmates in a prison hospital where he was being treated for pneumonia in January 2023. According to the prosecution, he justified the Ukrainian attacks against the Crimea Bridge, an important infrastructure. connecting Russia to the annexed peninsula, and the actions of two Ukrainian military units declared “terrorist organizations” in Russia, the Azov brigade and the Kraken regiment. His lawyer, however, explained Friday that, given the Russian sentencing system, Gorinov may not serve the full two cumulative sentences.
“Stop the bloody and unnecessary massacre”
Before the verdict, Alexei Gorinov again asked “Stop the bloody and unnecessary massacre” in Ukraine, according to a speech broadcast by independent media SotaVision. “Isn’t it time to leave our neighbors alone and solve our own problems? »declared, adding: “My guilt lies in the fact that, as a citizen of my country, I allowed this war and failed to stop it. »
The opponent was wearing a peace sign drawn on a piece of paper and taped to his prison uniform. During the first hearing of this new trial, Mr. Gorinov held up a sign with the words “Stop killing!” Let’s stop the war! ». He also denounced the “persecution of citizens who express their opinions” in Russia.
The crackdown in Russia has sent hundreds, if not thousands, of people to prison for their opposition to the Russian attack on Ukraine. People are regularly sentenced to very harsh sentences for “treason”, “sabotage” or “extremism”. Russian agencies reported on Friday, citing the security services (FSB), the sentencing of four people to prison terms of between six and 17 years for attempting to set fire to a Russian army recruiting office.
