Putin sighs, but comments on the ‘beastly’ Yashin sentence: ‘I consider meddling in the work of the courts absolutely impermissible.’

The same day when the Russian president hosted a press briefing on the results his Bishkek visit, a Moscow court sentenced the opposition leader Ilya Yashin to 8.5 years in a penal colony for hosting a live stream on Russian war crimes in Bucha.

Andrey Kolesnikov, a journalist present at Vladimir Putin’s Bishkek briefing, asked the president about Yashin’s “beastly sentence.” Here’s their brief dialogue in Meduza’s translation:

Kolesnikov: Today, Ilya Yashin was sentenced —

Putin: Who is that?

Kolesnikov: A blogger.

Putin: What’s the sentence?

Kolesnikov: The sentence is 8.5 years [Putin sighs], under the law about “fakes.” Doesn’t it seem to you that 8.5 years for speech is a beastly sentence?

Putin: To me — do you know that folk proverb — “if things seem to you, cross yourself”? I got a certain basic education at the State University of then-Leningrad, and I’d like to tell you that I consider meddling in the work of the courts absolutely impermissible. I think it undesirable to cast aspersions on a court decision, and there are certain rights to defense guaranteed to citizens by law. Perhaps he could appeal to a higher court. I’m sure Mr. Yashin’s lawyers know what they need to do.

Follow Meduza in English on Twitter to stay up to date.