A court in the Russian city of Samara has sentenced singer Edouard Charlotte to five and a half years in prison after openly criticizing the invasion of Ukraine through videos posted online.
The court in the 26-year-old's hometown found him guilty of "publicly insulting the religious feelings of believers" and "restoring Nazism ," state news agency Ria Novosti reported.
The singer, who is popular among young people, released a music video in June 2023 in which he burned his Russian ID in protest of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
In other video clips he was seen tearing a ribbon with orange and black stripes in the shape of a "Z", the symbol of the Russian armed forces, or playing with a picture of Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, who had supported the invasion of Ukraine , reports A2.
After the start of the war, the singer left Russia to settle in Armenia, but later returned and was arrested in November 2023 as soon as he arrived at the St. Petersburg airport.
During the trial, he pleaded guilty and expressed regret for his actions, reports A2. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, thousands of Russians have been punished, threatened or imprisoned for openly expressing their opposition to the war.
Trials for "terrorism", "sabotage", "treason" or "espionage" have also been added, and in most cases very severe sentences are imposed. (A2 Televizion)
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