Russian Pediatrician Sentenced to Five Years Amidst Controversial Remarks on Ukraine War

Nadezhda Buyanova, a pediatrician in Moscow, has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in a penal colony for allegedly spreading false information about Russian soldiers engaged in the war in Ukraine. The case has drawn attention to the increasingly repressive measures in Russia against dissent concerning the ongoing conflict.

Nadezhda Buyanova, a 68-year-old pediatrician, has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in a penal colony after a court found her guilty of spreading false information about the Russian armed forces, following comments made about soldiers in Ukraine. The doctor's alleged remarks were made in the context of her treatment for a seven-year-old boy whose father, a Russian soldier, died in the conflict.

During her trial, Buyanova insisted that she had not made the alleged comments, and there was no recorded evidence supporting the accusations against her. Reportedly, she was turned over to authorities by the child's mother, who claimed that Buyanova suggested Russian servicemen were warranted targets, thus igniting a legal battle that resulted in her arrest in February, followed by pre-trial detention.

At the sentencing, a supporter in the courtroom reacted with outrage, exclaiming about the severity of her punishment. Buyanova's lawyer described the ruling as "monstrously harsh" and expressed disbelief over the gravity of consequences stemming from what he characterized as mere words. Supporters in attendance expressed shock, conveying their solidarity with Buyanova in hopes of providing emotional strength.

Her case highlights the climate of fear gripping Russia, particularly since the invasion of Ukraine. The legislation against spreading false information about the army is part of a wider crackdown on dissent, reminiscent of repressive measures from the Soviet era. Many view the legal actions against individuals like Buyanova as part of a broader strategy by the Russian government to silence critics and control the narrative surrounding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.