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

Source: Meduza

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.

What Yashin had to say about Putin

The court is ‘way too optimistic’ about Putin’s prospects Opposition leader Ilya Yashin comments on his trial and 8.5-year sentence

What Yashin had to say about Putin

The court is ‘way too optimistic’ about Putin’s prospects Opposition leader Ilya Yashin comments on his trial and 8.5-year sentence

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