Two people recited poetry in the square… 7 years and 5 years and 6 months in prison respectively
Testimony of sexual assault and threats while in detention… Family “My older brother is harsh”
German Foreign Ministry: Russia is suppressing freedom of expression
Two Russian men have been sentenced to prison by a Moscow court for reciting a poem opposing the war.
According to foreign media such as the Guardian on the 28th (local time), a Moscow court sentenced two men to long prison terms for reciting a poem opposing the invasion of Ukraine. They read poetry at a protest against military mobilization last year.
Artyom Kamardin (33) was sentenced to seven years in prison for reciting poetry, and Yegor Shtovva (23) was sentenced to five years and six months in prison for attending protests. Their charges include ‘inciting hatred’ and ‘promoting activities that threaten national security.’
Last September, Kamardin recited the poem ‘Kill me, militiaman!’ in a Moscow square where dissidents gathered. He is also known to have shouted slogans against Russian authorities trying to annex southern Ukraine.
After the sentencing, Camardin’s supporters chanted “Shame on you” at the judge. According to media, some of them were arrested by police outside the court building.
Kamardin claimed that he was sexually assaulted by police while in custody and that police threatened his wife, Alexandra Popova, and forced her to film an apology video.
Popova said, “When I was detained by Kamardin, who was my boyfriend at the time, I was threatened with gang rape,” and “the police beat me and sprayed glue on my cheek and mouth.” “Her husband’s sentence is very harsh,” he said.
In her final statement to the court, Štobva protested, asking, “Did I do something illegal?” and “Was it illegal to read the poem?”
Russian authorities have detained thousands of people for protesting the war in Ukraine. “In effect, criticism of the authorities is prohibited,” the Guardian reported.
The German Foreign Ministry criticized the above incident, saying, “Russia’s judiciary is suppressing freedom of expression.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.