A Russian court on Thursday sentenced to three years in prison a man who had broadcast messages via pirate radio denouncing the offensive in Ukraine, followed in Russia in recent months by a strong acceleration of repression.
Vladimir Roumiantsev, a 61-year-old worker living in Vologda (northwest), was found guilty of spreading “false information” with “hate motives” about the Russian army, indicated on Telegram
the press service of the courts of the region.
"Between April 7 and 13, the defendant broadcast from his apartment in Vologda, via a specific radio frequency, false information about negative actions by members of the armed forces", indicated this source, specifying that he acted on erroneous information on “robberies with violence”, “destruction of localities” or even “forced sexual relations with young women” in Ukraine.
In pre-trial detention since July
According to the court, Vladimir Rumiantsev had also posted on his account VKontakte, the main Russian social network, "six videos with false information saying that members of the Russian army in Ukraine rob, kill and rape civilians".
The defendant pleaded not guilty and had been in pre-trial detention since July.
The prosecution had requested six years in prison against him.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine in February, thousands of people who spoke out against the conflict have been briefly imprisoned in Russia or fined.
According to the specialized NGO OVD-Info, more than 380 other people are being prosecuted in criminal cases carrying heavy penalties.
Most opposition figures have fled the country or are in prison.
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