Kremlin Opponent Alexei Gorinov Receives Additional Jail Time for War Criticism

In a notable escalation of sentencing for anti-war statements, 63-year-old Alexei Gorinov has received an additional three years in prison for speaking against Russia's military actions in Ukraine.

Gorinov, originally sentenced to seven years in 2022 for condemning the invasion during a city council session, appeared in a Vladimir court to face new charges of "justifying terrorism." Prosecutors argued that he utilized "terrorist ideology" while in a prison hospital, trying to influence fellow inmates. The opposition figure expressed his sorrow over the ongoing war, calling for peace and forgiveness from Ukrainians. He first gained notoriety in April 2022 when he argued against holding a children's drawing contest amidst the conflict's toll on children's lives in Ukraine. His case symbolizes the growing risks faced by dissenters in Russia, especially those opposing the war. Amid growing international concern over human rights violations, Gorinov's arrest and subsequent sentencing have drawn attention to the consequences of questioning government narratives in an increasingly authoritarian state.