The Ukrainian-born activist was sentenced by a Russian court to seven years in prison for “justifying terrorism,” Reuters reports. Mikhail Krieger, 63, was arrested in November for posting on the Internet in which he outlined a position on Russia and President Vladimir Putin.
An activist and former member of Moscow’s Tagansky District Council, Krieger helped organize demonstrations in support of Ukraine after the Russian invasion in 2014. He also protested in support of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny and other dissidents targeted by the Kremlin.
In 2020, Krieger posted on social media that Putin should be hanged. The Russian prosecutor’s office claimed that with this message the man incited hatred.
During the trial, the activist denied all accusations and took the opportunity to talk about the war that broke out in Ukraine in February 2022.
“I consider this war a rare conflict in which the truth is 100% on one side. And that side is Ukraine,” he stressed, quoted by the news agency.
Mikhail Krieger shouted “Glory to Ukraine” as soon as he heard the verdict.
According to the Russian human rights network OVD-Info, criminal cases have been initiated against more than 500 people for anti-war actions.