A court in Russia's city of Tolyatti on March 17 sentenced Andrei Balin, a former co-chairman of the opposition Parnas party's local branch, to seven years in prison on a charge of discrediting Russia's armed forces. Balin's lawyer, Zakhar Lebedev, says the charge against his client stemmed from his six online posts about Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Dozens of Russian politicians, activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens have been either fined or handed prison terms over their anti-war online posts or public statements since Russia launched its full-scale aggression against Ukraine in February last year. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.
Former Co-Chairman Of Russian Opposition Party's Regional Branch Gets Seven Years In Prison
Andrei Balin (file photo)