Russian opposition politician Ilya Yashin sentenced to 8.5 years in prison for 'disinformation' about Russian army

A Moscow court has sentenced Russian opposition politician Ilya Yashin to eight and a half years in prison on charges of spreading “disinformation” about the Russian army.

After serving his prison sentence, Yashin will be prohibited from using the Internet for an additional four years. Russia’s state prosecutor requested a nine-year prison sentence.

The case against Yashin was launched in response to an April livestream in which he spoke about the murders of Ukrainian civilians in Bucha during Russia’s occupation of the Ukrainian town. According to the prosecution, Yashin “knowingly spread false information” for “reasons of political hatred” despite “knowing” that Russia is taking measures to “maintain peace and security” in Ukraine. He was arrested in July.

Yashin pleaded not guilty to the charges.