Seven years in prison for Moscow legislator over ‘army discrediting’ charges

Alexey Gorinov, a local legislator and Ilya Yashin’s ally, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for “spreading fake news about the Russian army, a newsperson for Novaya Gazeta Europe reports from the courthouse.

Gorinov has been found guilty of “malfeasant spreading of fake information in a group on grounds of hatred and hostility.” Gorinov’s guilt, as the judge ruled out, has been proven by testimony of the prosecution witnesses, a video recording from the local legislature meeting, the evidence provided by forensic experts, and other materials. The reasoning of Gorinov’s defence was found “unreliable.”

The prosecutor’s theory says that Gorinov, alongside fellow legislator Yelena Kotyonochkina, made several statements which “contained fake information regarding Russia’s armed forces” during the legislature meeting on 15 March. Kotyonochkina also faced criminal charges, but she managed to leave Russia before being arrested and is now on the international wanted list.