Igor Girkin, a former commander in the East Ukrainian conflict, faced a four-year prison sentence following a Moscow court ruling on Thursday.
Girkin, a known ultra-nationalist and vocal critic of Vladimir Putin, had previously been convicted by a Dutch court in connection with the MH17 incident.
Russian court jails Igor Girkin: His current imprisonment stems from extremism charges related to his opposition to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
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Playing a crucial role in Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the initial stages of the Donbas invasion, Girkin later transitioned into a popular Russian military blogger with over half a million followers on Telegram.
Despite denying the charges, Girkin once contemplated running against Putin in a March presidential election, expressing confidence in his ability to outperform the veteran leader.
Girkin was closely associated with the MH17 tragedy, resulting in his conviction in absentia for mass murder.
In addition to the prison term, the Thursday verdict imposed internet restrictions on Girkin, effectively limiting his ability to publicly criticize Putin’s leadership.
Girkin’s arrest in July, on charges of promoting extremist activities, coincided with heightened criticism of Putin and military missteps in Ukraine. This detention followed the failed rebellion by Wagner mercenaries, a period when Putin’s hold on power seemed more precarious.
Approximately 100 supporters gathered outside the Moscow court on Thursday to express opposition to Girkin’s sentencing.
His wife, expressing concern over her inability to visit him for six months, stated, ‘Today I am very worried. To be honest, I have a storm of negative emotions. It seems to me that this is a demonstrative punishment for all the heroes of Russia. They are simply not wanted now and are being removed. We hope that we still have justice, and that my husband will be released sooner or later. I hope this happens after the elections because a purge seems to be underway.’
In a separate case on Thursday, a Russian woman was jailed for 27 years for delivering a bomb that exploded in the hands of a pro-war military blogger last year.
Darya Trepova, 26, was convicted by a St Petersburg court of charges including terrorism in connection with the death of the popular pro-war blogger Vladlen Tatarsky. Her sentence is one of the longest given to a woman in modern Russian history.
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