A court in the Russian city of St. Petersburg sentenced anti-war activist Olga Smirnova to six years in prison on August 30 on a charge of spreading fake news about the armed forces. Smirnova was also banned from administering websites for three years. Prosecutors asked for a seven-year sentence. The 54-year-old activist of the Peaceful Resistance movement was arrested in May 2022. Investigators say she placed materials about Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine on the Internet that contradicted official Defense Ministry statements. Smirnova pleaded not guilty, and her lawyers say they intend to appeal the decision. To read the original story by RFE/RL’s Russian Service click here.
Russian Anti-War Activist Sentenced To Six Years In Prison For Internet Posts
Russian activist Olga Smirnova