Politics

Moscow court sentences Russian opposition politician to 10 years in absentia

Ilya Ponomarev answering questions from journalists. Photo: Freya_Fae/ X
Ilya Ponomarev answering questions from journalists. Photo: Freya_Fae/ X
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A Moscow court has sentenced a former Russian MP in absentia to 10 years in prison for spreading "false" information about the Russian army and promoting "terrorist activity," Russian prosecutors said.

Ilya Ponomarev fled to Ukraine in 2014 after voting against Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

Since moving to Ukraine, Ponomarev has gained Ukrainian citizenship and become involved with opposition movements. He recently led the political wing of the Freedom of Russia Legion, a group of ethnic Russians fighting for Ukraine.

The charges against Ponomarev stem from a video published in March 2022, in which he allegedly spread "false information" about Russia's military operations.

According to opposition media outlet Mediazona, the video was a YouTube interview where Ponomarev predicted the possible assassination of Vladimir Putin. Russian authorities connected the video to promoting terrorism.

On August 1st, Ponomarev and his wife were hospitalized with minor injuries after a drone strike destroyed their home near Kyiv. According to Ukrainian outlet Obozrevatel, a Russian Geran-2 drone detonated just five meters from the house.

This came after a previous drone attack near his residence on July 31.

“I will definitely continue to do what I am doing and intensify what I am doing,” Ponomarev told TVP World after his assassination attempt in August.
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