Dmitry Glukhovsky
A Russian court condemned prominent science fiction author Dmitry Glukhovsky to eight years in prison in absentia on Monday for denouncing Moscow’s Ukraine offensive on social media.
Glukhovsky, who resides outside of Russia, is best known for his novel Metro-2033, which became a popular video game.
The 44-year-old, whom Moscow has already designated as a foreign agent, was found guilty of spreading fake information against the Russian army.
Author was sentenced under a law passed shortly after President Vladimir Putin dispatched troops to Ukraine, which has been used to silence critics of the offensive.
Glukhovsky has repeatedly condemned Moscow’s military action against Ukraine.
Following a Russian attack on Odesa late last month, he uploaded a black square with the word ‘Odesa’ coupled with a heart symbol on his Instagram page with the phrase: “Bi***es”.
On the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the full-fledged conflict in February, the novelist said on social media, “As a year ago, I am completely convinced that this war is just as ruinous for Russia and our people as it is deadly and destructive for the nation that I love that is Ukraine”.
Russia has launched an unprecedented crackdown on dissent as its troops fight in Ukraine.
Glukhovsky has also blogged in support of imprisoned opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who was sentenced to 19 years in prison last week.
Navalny’s team said on Monday that the Putin critic had been thrown in solitary confinement for the second time in two weeks.
“It is the 18th time”, his team wrote on Telegram.
Navalny, who has spoken out against the Ukraine offensive from behind bars, was sentenced on Friday to serve his long sentence in a special regime penal colony.
Also read: Russian Attack On Ukraine Residential Building Results In 5 Deaths And 31 Injuries
