Moscow Councillor Receives Additional Three-Year Sentence for Opposing Ukraine War

A Moscow councillor, already incarcerated for his opposition to Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, has been handed an extended prison term of three years. Alexei Gorinov, aged 63, initially received a seven-year sentence in 2022 following footage that showed him denouncing the invasion during a city council session. He was then considered to be the initial individual sentenced under legislation enacted to suppress dissent subsequent to Russia’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. On Friday, Gorinov was present at a court in Vladimir, where he was sentenced on charges of “justifying terrorism.” The presiding judge additionally mandated Gorinov’s transfer to a more stringent correctional facility. Gorinov’s incarceration was extended by three years following the initiation of a second legal proceeding against him. According to AFP news agency, he stands accused of criticizing Russia’s offensive while admitted to a prison hospital. Prosecutors stated that last winter, Gorinov attempted to persuade fellow inmates with what they termed the “ideology of terrorism.” Gorinov’s legal team asserted that authorities placed him with notorious inmates—specifically, a convicted robber and rapist—who, they claimed, recorded their discussions with him. “I am for peace and you like war,” Gorinov declared following the announcement of the sentence, as reported by the Mediazona website. Gorinov further urged Russia to cease its nearly three-year offensive and sought forgiveness from Ukrainians. He stated, “Let’s stop this slaughter that nobody needs – not us, not the citizens of Ukraine.” “The guilt that I have is that I, as a citizen of my country, let this war happen and was not able to stop it.” The opposition councillor’s arrest occurred in late April 2022, over a month after he spoke at a district meeting held in the Krasnoselsky area of north-east Moscow. During that meeting, Gorinov voiced opposition to the proposal of organizing a children’s drawing contest at a time when children were perishing in Ukraine. He had also attempted to initiate the council meeting with a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims. Another opposition councillor who endorsed his statements has since departed Russia. This content is copyrighted by BBC, 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Further details on our external linking policy are available.