**Russian Hairdresser Jailed for Five Years Over Fake News Charge**
In a shocking case, Anna Alexandrova, a 47-year-old hairdresser from St Petersburg, has been sentenced to five years and two months in jail for spreading fake news about the Russian army. The court found her guilty of posting eight anti-war messages on social media, which she denied was her doing.
According to Alexandrova’s lawyer, the case started out as an ordinary domestic dispute over land with a neighbor. However, things took a turn when the neighbor complained to prosecutors after receiving pictures of the war in Ukraine from Alexandrova. The court ruled that discrediting the armed forces and intentionally spreading fake news about the military became a crime in Russia within weeks of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
**Crackdown on Dissent Intensifies**
This is not an isolated incident. Since the war began, the Kremlin has intensified its crackdown on dissent, jailing hundreds of opponents and critics, and silencing independent media. In a separate case, four journalists were jailed in Moscow for five and a half years after being found guilty of working for an “extremist organisation”. The journalists had insisted they were only doing their jobs as journalists.
**Restrictive Laws on Dissent**
Russia’s restrictive laws on dissent have ensnared people from all walks of life. Denunciations have led to prison terms, and Russians have informed on their colleagues and other people they know, in actions reminiscent of the Soviet era when a boy called Pavlik Morozov was lionized for betraying his own father.
**Hairdresser’s Case Evokes Ghosts of Soviet Past**
The hairdresser’s case evokes memories of the Soviet past where people were encouraged to report on their neighbors and friends. The BBC’s Steve Rosenberg visited the court last September, where Alexandrova’s lawyer told him that the case started out as an ordinary domestic squabble over land.
**Criticism of “Fake News” Law**
Lawyers for a Moscow councillor who was given the first full jail term under the “fake news” law have filed a complaint against the offence with Russia’s constitutional court. The councillors, Alexei Gorinov, was initially given seven years in jail after he was filmed criticising Russia’s invasion at a council meeting.
**Conclusion**
The jailing of Anna Alexandrova and other critics highlights the Kremlin’s efforts to suppress dissenting voices and silence independent media. The restrictive laws on dissent have created a culture of fear and snitching, reminiscent of the Soviet era. It remains to be seen how far this crackdown will go and what impact it will have on Russian society.
**Read More**
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