Russia sentences musician to 6 years for criticizing war and Putin on social media

courts of the district Moscow An activist was sentenced to six years in prison on Friday for criticizing Russian attacks on social media Ukrainedenounced an NGO and one of his relatives.

Alexander BakhtinThe 51-year-old musician and environmental activist was arrested in March 2023 and accused of spreading “false information” about the Russian military, a charge often used to silence critics of the conflict.

«Alexander He was sentenced to six years in exile,” he told AFP Andrei Schettinenfriend Bakhtin During the hearing.

You’ll also need to undergo regular psychiatric assessments, he added. Xie Jining

.human rights advocacy groups OVD information Confirmed this sentence.

The accusation is based on three social media posts between March and April 2022 in which he blamed the Russian president. vladimir putin For conflict.

Bakhtin After the verdict was read, she cursed the judge loudly, saying Xie Jining.

defendant’s mother Lyudmila BakhtinaThe 79-year-old was called as a witness in the prosecution against her son.

At previous hearings, journalists attended AFPThe woman told the court she signed the testimony without reading it and that she did not know she could refuse to testify.according to Bakhtina

the activist suffered from bronchitis and heart disease.

Around 20,000 people detained in Russia over protests against conflict in Russia Ukraineaccording to OVD information.