A Siberian court has sentenced a 39-year-old man from Zheleznogorsk in the Krasnoyarsk region to three years in prison for defacing 13 posters promoting enlistment in the Russian army. Regional authorities announced on Tuesday that the man was convicted of “discrediting” Russian forces, a charge increasingly used to suppress dissent against the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The incident, which occurred in June 2024, was deemed “deliberate and intentional” by the court. Authorities have intensified efforts to crack down on opposition to the war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022. Thousands have been sanctioned, threatened, or imprisoned under similar charges, with allegations ranging from espionage and treason to sabotage and extremism.
Public poster campaigns promoting monetary incentives for military enlistment have proliferated in cities and regions as Russia approaches the third anniversary of its involvement in Ukraine. The government’s harsh response to dissent reflects its broader strategy to quell any opposition to the war.
This sentencing adds to the growing number of heavy prison terms handed down to individuals accused of undermining state narratives or opposing military initiatives.
