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'Find Joy in Everything': Election Monitor Grigory Melkonyants' Last Word in Court

The co-chair of the leading independent election monitor Golos has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Silence or Jail: Teens Targeted in Russia’s Wartime Political Crackdown

Schoolchildren who voice anti-war views are increasingly pressured, from teachers reporting them to the authorities and interrogations to being jailed...

‘I Am Being Tried For My Professional Activity’: The Last Words of Journalists Jailed for Alleged Navalny Ties

MT republishes the court statements of video journalists Konstantin Gabov and Sergei Karelin, who were jailed for 5.5 years on "extremism" charges.

Journalist Kriger’s Last Word in Court: ‘I Fully Understood the Risks of This Profession in Russia’

Artyom Kriger is one of four journalists facing nearly six years in prison on charges of “extremism” over alleged ties to the late opposition figure...

Alla Gutnikova: ‘Dictatorships End, Walls Fall and Prisons Burn’

The ex-DOXA editor discusses resistance, repression and her difficult journey to freedom.

Journalist Ponomarenko’s Last Word in Court: ‘I've Never Seen as Much Violence as I Have in Jail’

Maria Ponomarenko, who was imprisoned for posts about the Russian bombing of a theater in Mariupol, Ukraine, accused the penitentiary system of abuse and...

Russia’s First Imprisoned War Critic Gorinov Added to ‘Terrorist and Extremist’ List

Alexei Gorinov, a former Moscow councilor, was sentenced to seven years in prison in July 2022 for spreading “fake news” about the military.

UN Expert Sounds Alarm on 2,000 ‘Political Prisoners’ in Russia

Their lives remain at grave risk unless they are released immediately, said the UN's special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Russia.

Alexei Gorinov’s Last Word in Court: ‘Let’s Stop This Bloody, Needless Massacre’

"Isn't it time to leave our neighbors alone and deal with our own snowballing domestic problems?"

Alexei Gorinov’s Last Word in Court: ‘Let’s Stop This Bloody, Needless Massacre’

"Isn't it time to leave our neighbors alone and deal with our own snowballing domestic problems?"

Russia’s Youngest Political Prisoner, 16, Says Beaten by Cellmate

Arseny Turbin is serving five years in a juvenile colony for allegedly attempting to join the Freedom of Russia Legion.

‘I Never Believed I Could Get on That Plane’: Freed Political Prisoner Sasha Skochilenko

The Moscow Times spoke with Skochilenko and her girlfriend, Sofia Subbotina, about this month's prisoner exchange and their future plans.

'I Still Can't Imagine Life Outside Russia': Oleg Orlov on Prisoner Exchange and Rights Work in Exile

The veteran human rights defender was one of 16 prisoners freed by Russia on Aug. 1 in a historic exchange between Russia and the West.

Freed Political Prisoner Pivovarov Talks Exchange, Future Plans

The former head of the pro-democracy group Open Russia was one of the 16 prisoners freed from Russia in last week's major prisoner exchange.

‘If You Talk, You’ll Go in a Bag’: Freed Russian Political Prisoners Recount Harrowing, Surprising Prison Swap

Prisoners’ friends and relatives have recounted the uncertain, frightening time before their release in one of the largest and most complex prisoner...

Russia Frees Political Prisoners, Journalists in Landmark Exchange With West

Evan Gershkovich, a former Moscow Times reporter, is among over a dozen journalists and political prisoners released from Russian prison.

Russian Political Prisoners Are Heroes, Even if the World Doesn’t Know Their Name

The Kremlin does not punish citizens out of a desire for revenge. They act to inspire fear. You only need to scare a few people to subdue the population...

‘Do You Still Need This War?’: The Anti-War Russian Teenagers Facing Long Prison Sentences

Several teenagers in Russia have been sentenced for their anti-war views.

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