Liudmila Stein, a Russian activist and member of Pussy Riot, has been sentenced to six years in prison in absentia for spreading false information about the Russian Armed Forces. The Prosecutor’s Office had requested an eight-year sentence with a four-year internet ban. Stein, who is abroad and wanted by Russia since May 2022, was accused of publicly disseminating deliberately false information about the armed forces, a crime punishable by up to ten years in prison.
Prior to this conviction, Stein had previously been sentenced to one year of restricted freedom for violating sanitary regulations during a demonstration in support of opposition leader Alexi Navalny. She later cut off her electronic ankle bracelet as ordered by the court and left Russia, receiving a fine in absentia for discrediting the Armed Forces. The court stated that Stein, a former Moscow municipal deputy, would serve her sentence once extradited to Russia.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, over 19,855 people have been detained in Russia for expressing anti-war views. Pussy Riot, known for their opposition activism, gained notoriety in 2012 when they staged a protest outside the Russian Duma wearing balaclavas and holding banners that read “Putin is Hitler.” After fleeing house arrest in Moscow with her girlfriend Maria Alyokhina, Stein eventually settled in Iceland where they were granted citizenship in May 2023.
The ongoing crackdown on dissent in Russia has led to increased repression against activists and opposition figures. Many have faced severe punishment for speaking out against the government’s actions or supporting opposition leaders such as Navalny. With this conviction, it is clear that the Russian government will continue its efforts to silence those who speak out against them or criticize their actions.
The charges against Stein were based on a tweet she posted in March 2022 commenting on a video of Ukrainian soldiers shooting at Russian prisoners of war. The tweet included allegations that Russian soldiers had committed human rights abuses during their deployment and that Ukrainian soldiers were fighting for democracy and human rights.
Despite facing charges related to these allegations, Stein has continued to advocate for democratic values and human rights both domestically and internationally. Her conviction sends a message that those who speak out against authoritarian regimes can face severe consequences.
In conclusion, Liudmila Stein’s conviction marks another step towards silencing dissenters and critics of the Russian government’s actions. It also highlights how authoritarian regimes seek to control information and limit free speech to maintain power over their citizens.
As we continue to see increased repression against activists and opposition figures around the world, it is important now more than ever to stand up for our values of democracy and human rights wherever we may be.