Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Russian Court Sentences Young Activists for Extremism

Charles Maynes

   MOSCOW - A Moscow court convicted 7 young Russians on extremism charges
   Thursday -- sentencing several of the group to lengthy prison sentences
   in a closely watched case that seemed to encapsulate the limits of
   political youth activism in today's Russia.

   Prosecutors argued that the defendants -- most in their teens and 20's
   -- had organized an illegal online extremist chat group called "The New
   Greatness" with the intent of overthrowing the government in 2018.

   The accused all denied the charges and said evidence was fabricated.

   Indeed, to critics, the case was the latest example of the government's
   abuse of Russia's vague anti-extremism laws -- and subservient court
   system -- to crush perceived political rivals through any means
   necessary.

   The state's case was marred by credible accusations of torture and
   entrapment by Russia's Federal Security Services, or FSB.

   The government's key witness was an undercover FSB agent named "Ruslan
   D" who prosecutors say infiltrated the group to learn of their plans.
   Throughout the trial, the accused countered that the agent himself
   concocted "The New Greatness" label and pushed a radical political
   agenda to the other participants in an otherwise largely apolitical
   group chat.

   Supporting government evidence came from an additional suspect in the
   case -- Pavel Rebrovsky, who later cut a plea deal with investigators
   and was given a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence in April 2019.
   Rebrovsky has since rescinded his testimony -- saying it was given
   under pressure from state investigators.

   The judge cited Rebrovsky's initial confession as proof of the group's
   guilt, nonetheless.

   Authorities also promoted the group's guilt by releasing a video
   confession from another defendant, Ruslan Kostylenkov.

   Kostylenkov, 29, later [1]retracted the statement explaining he had
   been coerced through torture and rape while in custody.

   He was given the harshest sentence -- a 7-year prison term. Two others
   were given 6.5- and 6-year prison terms. The remaining accused were
   handed suspended sentences, including Anna Pavlikova, who was a 17-year
   old high school student when the case began.

   Lawyers for all said they would appeal the ruling.

   Acquittals are exceedingly rare in Russia, with conviction rates
   hovering at over 99% in criminal trials.

   FSB Unbound

   Outside the courthouse, several hundred supporters -- most of them
   younger Russians -- gathered and shouted chants of "Not guilty!" and
   "Let them go!" While inside the courtroom, the defendants were forced
   to stand for 4 hours as the judge read his verdict in a hushed whisper.

   The case was widely seen as the latest legal warning shot against youth
   dabbling in politics -- particularly as the Kremlin has increasingly
   struggled to gain support among a generation that has essentially known
   one leader, Vladimir Putin, for their entire lives.

   In February, a court sentenced a group of young leftist activists to
   lengthy prison terms for running an "anarchist terrorist" cell called
   "The Network." The case was similarly tainted by allegations of
   fabricated evidence and torture at the hands of the federal security
   services.

References

   1. https://t.me/kremlinprachka/2376

.