Yashin, 39, was on trial for his criticism of the Russian army and the “special military operation” in Ukraine. In a YouTube video, he spoke of Western journalists’ findings of possible war crimes in Ukrainian Bocha and questioned the official Russian version of the facts. A case of “provocation”, according to the court.
Earlier this week, during the trial, Jashin directly addressed Putin, whom he described as “the person responsible for this slaughter” and asked him to “stop this madness.” With him disappears one of the last known Kremlin critics who were still at large. Shortly after the February invasion, Russia introduced laws against criticism of the military. An offense can carry a prison sentence of fifteen years.