Moscow councillor faces jail for ‘false information’ on Russian army

• Alexei Gorinov was arrested in late April for disseminating “knowingly false information” about Russian army.
• Accused of acting “in a group” with another Moscow deputy, Yelena Kotyonochkina, who has fled Russia.
• Charges come under new legislation that allows prison time for discrediting Russian military.

Moscow court on Tuesday began hearing the case of a councillor who faces up to ten years in prison for criticizing Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine.

Alexei Gorinov, a trained lawyer, was arrested in late April for disseminating “knowingly false information” about the Russian army.

Gorinov is accused of acting “in a group” with another Moscow deputy, Yelena Kotyonochkina, who has fled Russia and is being charged in her absence.

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He faces up to 10 years in jail.

The charges come under new legislation that allows prison time for discrediting the Russian military and is part of Moscow’s growing efforts to silence dissent.

Gorinov appeared in court Tuesday wearing jeans and a blue checked shirt, carrying a piece of paper that said “No to war”, an AFP journalist reported.

Gorinov spoke up against Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine during a work meeting in March that was recorded on video and is available on YouTube.

During his speech, he questioned plans for an art competition for children in his constituency while “every day children are dying” in Ukraine.

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“Children are becoming orphans while the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of World War II participants are thrown into the midst of fighting in Ukraine,” he said.

“I believe that all efforts of civil society must only serve to end the war and lead to the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory,” he added.

According to Amnesty International, Gorinov’s case is part of a “ruthless campaign by Russian authorities to stamp out any criticism of their actions in Ukraine.”