A Moscow councillor has been jailed for seven years for speaking out against Russia's war in Ukraine - in what is said to be the first full jail term under new laws targeting dissent.

Alexei Gorinov, 60, was arrested in April after he was filmed criticising the invasion in a city council meeting.

Under the post-invasion law, anyone who spreads "fake news" about the military faces up to 15 years in jail.

Russians are banned from using the word war to describe the invasion.

President Vladimir Putin has instead coined the phrase "special military operation", although he spoke of the "war in the Donbas" in remarks to parliamentary leaders on Thursday.

Human rights activist Pavel Chikov said Gorinov's sentence was the first jail term under the new law. Until now judges have only handed down a fine or a suspended sentence.

Judge Olesya Mendeleyeva ruled he had carried out his crime "based on political hatred" and had misled Russians, prompting them to "feel anxiety and fear" about the military campaign.

Appearing in court in northern Moscow, Gorinov held up a piece of paper with words he had written in pen: "Do you still need this war?" A security official held up his hands to try to obscure the message.

Russian prosecutors are also calling for a long prison term for prominent pro-democracy figure Andrei Pivovarov, who was removed from a plane as it was about to leave St Petersburg in May. His lawyer said he was accused of directing an undesirable organisation, Open Russia.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62092196

Vladimir Putin Tyrant......
I feel for Russians going by their leader.


Deep Quote:
Absolute power corrupts absolutely!



@Seniorwriter

Like Putin, Like Abacha. This is dictatorship.

VeryWickedMan:
Too soft. Firing squad would have been better.

Or hanging.

I remember Abacha sent Obasanjo to jail and many fled the country.
As per killing, Abacha did the same thing with Ken Saro Wiwa and the Ogoni 9.
That's what is expected in a dictatorship

....

DannyFX2638:
choose wisely Buhari or Abacha ?

Buhari.

May God not let us to return to abacha stove, and also fear saying bad things about the president in public like we saw during Abacha era. Atleast, we can yab Buhari day and night on Nairaland without repercussions unlike Abacha era.

During Abacha era, a platform like Nairaland would have been shutdown.

Enugurangers:

Buhari.

May God not let us to return to abacha stove, and also fear saying bad things about the president in public like we saw during Abacha era. Atleast, we can yab Buhari day and night on Nairaland without repercussions unlike Abacha era.

During Abacha era, a platform like Nairaland would have been shutdown.

The poster you replied probably was not born or a toddler during abacha era.