By Jeanne Plaumann
For more than four months, Vladimir Putin (69) has been waging a brutal and bloody war against Ukraine and its people. But even within Russia, the Kremlin tyrant eliminates people who oppose his invasion of the neighboring country or who spread what the Kremlin calls “knowingly false information” about the Russian army.
This is exactly what Alexei Gorinow (60) is accused of. A court on Friday sentenced the Moscow City Council to seven years in prison for using the word “war” to denounce Putin’s military intervention in Ukraine.
Gorinov is the first elected member of the opposition to be jailed for criticizing Moscow’s military action in Ukraine.
► Gorinow made it clear once again in court what he thinks of Putin’s bloody invasion: Standing in the glass dock, the gray-haired city councilor in a plaid shirt held a note in his hand on which he asked: “Do we still need this war?” ?
A uniformed bailiff repeatedly tried with his hands to hide the words from the cameras present before Gorinov removed them himself.
The city council is accused of discrediting the Russian army under tough legislation – which right-wing activists say is part of Moscow’s increasing effort to wipe out the last remnants of dissent.
During a working session in March, which was videotaped and available on YouTube, Gorinov spoke out against Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine.
A uniformed bailiff repeatedly tried to hide the words on Gorinov’s note from the cameras present Photo: Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP
Judge Olesya Mendeleyeva said Gorinov committed the crime “as part of a group of people by prior agreement based on political hatred.”
She said he and another MP, Elena Kotyonochkina, who has since fled Russia, had “misled” and “terrified” the Russians about the Kremlin’s military campaign in Ukraine.
Gorinov’s wife Alla cried in the courtroom as the verdict was read, and some supporters stood to applaud him before being led out of the courtroom.
Historical suppression of dissent
Russian society is suffering from a historic crackdown on dissent that has intensified since Putin sent troops to Ukraine on February 24.
Criticism of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — including the use of words like “war” and “intervention” — is generally banned in the country. Supporters of Gorinov have sharply criticized the verdict. Leonid Volkov, 41, a close ally of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny, 46, called it a “public execution” to quell any form of protest against Moscow’s military campaign.
“In this way, the Kremlin also betrays the weakness of its positions – when even the most benign rhetoric proves dangerous to its narratives – and suggests a way to act,” he wrote on the messaging app Telegram.
During his trial, Gorinov continued to oppose what the Kremlin has called a “special military operation” in Ukraine. “Regardless of what you call it, war is the dirtiest and most disgusting thing there is,” he said in court on Thursday.
► “Why are many of my countrymen ashamed and guilty? Why have so many left the country?” he said, referring to the exodus of liberal-minded Russians from the country.
Russia tightens laws again
In March Russia imposed prison terms of up to 15 years for disseminating false information intended to discredit the Russian armed forces.
On Wednesday, Russia’s parliament introduced harsh prison sentences for inciting acts against national security and criminal liability for maintaining “confidential” cooperation with foreigners.