Russian court jails politician for opposing Ukraine war

A Russian court has sentenced Maxim Kruglov, a former Moscow city assembly member and vice chairman of the Yabloko party, to seven years in prison. He was found guilty of spreading false information about the Russian military, a charge stemming from two Telegram posts he made in 2022. Kruglov, 39, pleaded not guilty, telling the court that the case demonstrates authorities' intolerance for dissent.

“

This case showed that the authorities do not tolerate anyone who does not agree with them.

"This is essentially a ban on disagreement," Kruglov stated, just over two months before parliamentary elections in which his party intends to compete. He rejected the prosecution's claim that his posts were motivated by political hatred, asserting that his career had been dedicated to improving life in Russia. "It turns out that political disagreement is equivalent to hatred," he told the court.

“

This is essentially a ban on disagreement.

The Yabloko party, once a prominent liberal force, now holds few regional seats and none in the national parliament. While unlikely to win seats in the upcoming Duma elections, participation offers a platform for anti-war views that authorities aim to suppress. The posts in question referenced UN data on conflict deaths and events in Bucha, Ukraine, which Moscow denies were a massacre.

“

It turns out that political disagreement is equivalent to hatred.

Yabloko party leader Nikolay Ryabakov condemned the verdict as unjust. He urged voters to support Yabloko to oppose the current political climate. Recent polls indicate that parties outside parliament, including Yabloko, have minimal support, with pro-Kremlin parties dominating the political landscape. Kruglov maintains his opposition to the war, expressing hope for a future peaceful Russia, a nation not feared but respected by its neighbors.

“

If people think that such sentences are acceptable, that such sentences are normal, then they should not vote for or support any party except Yabloko.