Russian journalist Alexander Nezorov was sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison by a Moscow court today. He was found guilty of spreading “false news” about the Russian army. Authorities filed a lawsuit against Nezorov last year for accusing the Russian army of deliberately bombing a maternity hospital in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol on social media.
The Russian government denied this at the time. If Nezorov returns to Russia, he will have to serve his sentence in a penal colony, the court said.
“Ridiculous”
Nezorow, whose YouTube channel has nearly two million subscribers, described the investigation as ridiculous. In March 2022 he left the country with his wife. In June, he was granted Ukrainian citizenship after publicly denouncing the Russian invasion, calling the war a crime and Ukraine a victim.
The verdict is based on a Russian law passed eight days after the invasion. It provides prison terms of up to 15 years for anyone who intentionally spreads false news about the Russian military. Russia has since blocked access to news sites that publish content that contradicts Moscow’s official line. Dozens of Russian and international media companies have left the country.