Russian court sentences author on terror-associated accusations
(MENAFN) A Russian military court has sentenced prominent writer Grigory Chkhartishvili—better known by his pen name Boris Akunin—to 14 years in prison in absentia for allegedly endorsing and promoting terrorist activities. The court also fined him 400,000 rubles (around $5,000).
Akunin, famous for his historical novels, has lived outside of Russia since 2014 and has been an outspoken critic of the Russian government, particularly following the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In early 2024, he was officially labeled a “foreign agent” by Russian authorities.
Prosecutors claimed Akunin made public statements since 2023 calling for the violent overthrow of the Russian government. Notably, in a February 2024 Telegram post, the writer declared that he no longer believed change in Russia was possible through peaceful means and voiced support for revolution. Additionally, in a phone call with pranksters Vovan and Lexus in December 2023, he reportedly expressed willingness to support Ukraine.
Akunin dismissed the court’s ruling in a Telegram post, calling the trial illegitimate and a mockery of justice.
The case reflects a broader crackdown on dissent within Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov recently defended the country’s strict media controls, describing them as necessary wartime censorship given the ongoing conflict in both physical and informational spheres.
Akunin is also accused of violating the terms of the “foreign agent” designation by failing to mark his content as required. Under Russian law, individuals or organizations designated as foreign agents must disclose funding sources, file regular reports, and label all public material appropriately. Noncompliance can result in up to two years in prison.
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