After the launch of the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian authorities reinforced their legislative arsenal to muzzle critical voices.
From our correspondent in Moscow
With the heavy condemnation ofIlia Iachine – eight and a half years in prison – the power intends to seal the coffin of the Russian opposition. Before his arrest in late June, the 39-year-old politician, longtime activist and former Moscow city deputy was one of the last public figures left in the country and speaking out loudly against Vladimir Putin and his war in Ukraine. . Friday, while a wet snow was falling, a few dozen faithful and many journalists were gathered in front of the court of Méchchanski, a district of the capital, while waiting for the verdict: almost the maximum required last Wednesday by the prosecutor (nine years) for “ spreading fake news » on the Russian army. At the start of the hearing, with no illusions about what to expect, Ilia Iachine appeared smiling as usual. He was on trial for having denounced, during a live intervention on YouTube“the killing of civiliansin the Ukrainian town of Boutcha, near kyiv, where the Russian army has been accused of abuses, which Moscow denies. During the trial, an “expert” from the Ministry of the Interior, as well as a linguist, came to testify that the accused had expressed a negative attitude towards the Ministry of Defense in his broadcast…
SEE ALSO – War in Ukraine: Russian opponent Yevgeny Roizman arrested for “discredit ” of the Army
A few days before his arrest, questioned by Le Figaro,Ilya Yashin had repeated that he had no intention of leaving Russia. “It’s not a special operation, it’s a real war. I will not use synonyms. I say war. I’m talking about war crimes. In my shows, I tell things that you won’t hear on TV. And in that sense, I’m being honest with myself and in front of my audience.” he also told us.
” Enough is enough “
The “crime” of Ilya Yashin was punished under provisions introduced into the Russian criminal code (Article 207.3) after February 24, and punishing ” discredit » of the army with a sentence of up to fifteen years in prison. One hundred and twenty-two criminal cases were opened in this respect in nine months, resulting in fifteen convictions, including ten with fines, and five with prison – the heaviest sentence being that pronounced against Ilia Iachine. “A shameful and illegal verdict that will not silence Ilia and should not intimidate honest people in Russia,”reacted Alexei Navalnyfrom the prison where he has been languishing since January 2021.
Involved in politics at a very young age, close to Boris Nemtsov, the former deputy prime minister assassinated in 2015, Ilia Iachine was a member of the liberal Yabloko party (before being expelled), and participated in numerous demonstrations. Between 2017 and 2021, he served on the city council of a Moscow district. On Wednesday, in the courtroom, he challenged Vladimir Putin, accusing him of being“at war not only with the Ukrainians but with (his) own compatriots”. “I ask you to stop this madness immediately. (…) Enough is enough “he launched to conclude.
SEE ALSO – War in Ukraine: Putin gives awards to Russian soldiers