**Russian Film Critic Placed Under House Arrest**
A Russian film critic, Ekaterina Barabash, has been placed under house arrest by a Moscow court. She was detained on February 25 for posting “fake news” about the war in Ukraine on her Facebook account.
Barabash’s son, Yurii, reported on Facebook that his mother will remain under house arrest until April 25. The Russian Investigative Committee claimed she “admitted her guilt in full” during an interrogation.
**Crackdowns on Freedom of Expression**
This is just the latest example of a crackdown on freedom of expression in Russia since the start of Moscow’s war against Ukraine. Barabash could face a fine of up to 5 million rubles ($57,500) or up to 10 years in prison for speaking out against Russian aggression.
**Accusing Evil**
Barabash is being accused under Article 207.3 of the criminal code for spreading “knowingly false” information about the military. This is a common method used by the Russian regime to silence dissent. At least 620 people faced politically motivated charges in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories last year, with a 25% surge in imprisonments.
**Speaking Out**
Despite the risks, Barabash continued to speak out against Russian aggression and those who support it. Her family has always been proud of their Ukrainian heritage, and she drew strength from her deep connection to it. Her recent article criticized a Russian theater director for expressing interest in staging a play glorifying Vladimir Putin’s “successes.”
**Supporting Dissent**
The Kyiv Independent supports those in Russia who are brave enough to stand up to the Kremlin despite knowing the terrible risk. If you like reading about this sort of thing, please consider supporting us.
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