Russian Activists Sentenced to Prison for Plotting Against President Putin

A Moscow court on Thursday sentenced three young activists to long prison terms for plotting to overthrow President Vladimir Putin.

 

The case has sparked protests in Russia and accusations that the police have gone out of line.

In 2018, authorities arrested ten people on charges of membership in an anarchist cell called the ‘New Greatness’ that planned an uprising against the government.

The supporters of the group say that the case was set up by agents of the Russian security service FSB who infiltrated the group.

The prominent Russian human rights group Memorial called the young men and women political prisoners.

A Moscow court sentenced 27-year-old Ruslan Kostilenkov to seven years in a penal colony, 34-year-old Pyotr Karamzin to 6.5 years and 22-year-old Vyatseslav Krjukov to six years.

All three have been in pre-trial detention since March 2018. Four others were given suspended sentences of 4 to 6.5 years on the same charge.