A Moscow court on August 15 ordered retired intelligence Colonel Vladimir Kvachkov, an ardent supporter of Russia's war in Ukraine, to pay a 40,000 rubles fine ($400) for discrediting Russian armed forces. The charge against Kvachkov stemmed from his online posts criticizing the country’s top military officials. Kvachkov told the courtroom that he had nothing to do with the posts. However, he added that in his opinion, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Defense Ministry "discredit the armed forces as they do not know how to conduct a war." Kvachkov was released from prison in 2019 after serving more than eight years on terrorism charges. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.
Retired Russian Intelligence Colonel Who Supports War In Ukraine Fined For Posts He Says Weren't His
Retired intelligence Colonel Vladimir Kvachkov (left) told a court on August 15 that Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Defense Ministry "discredit the armed forces as they do not know how to conduct a war."