Moscow Councillor Given Three Extra Years in Jail
A Moscow councillor has been given an extra three years in jail for speaking out against Russia‘s war in Ukraine. Alexei Gorinov, 63, was already serving a seven-year sentence after being filmed criticising the invasion at a city council meeting.
Gorinov appeared at a court in Vladimir to face charges of “justifying terrorism“. A judge also ordered that he be moved to a stricter prison facility.
Gorinov is accused of trying to convince other inmates while in prison that Russia’s offensive was wrong. Prosecutors say he tried to spread an “ideology of terrorism” last winter. His defence team claims that notorious prisoners were put with him and recorded their conversations, but this claim has not been proven.
After the sentence was announced, Gorinov said: “I am for peace and you like war.” He called on Russia to end its almost three-year offensive and asked Ukrainians for forgiveness.
Gorinov was arrested in April 2022 after speaking out against Russia’s invasion at a city council meeting. He had tried to start the meeting with a moment’s silence to remember the victims of the war, but this suggestion was rejected. Another opposition councillor who supported his remarks has since fled Russia.