Prosecutors have asked a Moscow court to jail Russian blogger Anton Nosik for two years after he wrote a post calling for the Kremlin to “erase Syria from the face of the earth.”
Nosik was charged with with inciting hatred or
hostility after a criminal investigation was launched in
November last year. Two years is the maximum sentence for the offense.
The blog post called
for Russian forces to carpet bomb the country and justified the death
of civilians. “I will not grieve if Syria is razed to the ground.
Moreover, I will be thankful,” Nosik wrote.
He
was also investigated for comments he made on the Echo Moskvy radio
station.
Nosik
has pleaded not guilty, but
told reporters that some of his comments made to Echo Moskvy may
have “overstepped the mark.”
The blogger had previously announced his intention to run in this month's State Duma elections.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
