A Russian artist has been sentenced to eight years in prison for replacing supermarket price tags with paper pieces calling for an end to the war against Ukraine. The Russian prosecutor also requested a three-year ban on Alexandra Skochilenko's internet use. Critics say Skochilenko's case, 33, is part of a crackdown on those protesting what Moscow calls a 'special military operation,' which has led to around 20,000 arrests and over 800 criminal cases. Skochilenko, an artist and musician known as 'Sasha' to her friends, carried out her protest on April 1, 2022. She was arrested a few days later following a complaint from a customer. In her protest, she displayed information about Ukrainian civilians in the place where supermarket prices are usually found. At that time, Moscow denied attacking civilians. During the court session on Monday, November 13, in St. Petersburg, two of her lawyers told the judge that their client acted solely on her conscience and committed no crime. Lawyer Yana Nepoyinova stated, 'You should never punish people for thinking and feeling differently.' She called for her client's acquittal, concluding her remarks with a quote from Alexandra Skochilenko: 'This is a test of your humanity.' Amnesty International has described Skochilenko as a 'prisoner of conscience.' Copies of the price tags produced by Skochilenko have been displayed on a website set up by her supporters. One of the tags accuses the Russian army of bombing a theater in the port city of Mariupol, where about 400 people were hiding. Moscow has called this accusation a lie. Another tag accuses Russian state television of not reporting the true casualty figures for Russia. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and parts of Ukrainian territory are currently occupied by Russian forces. The invasion has faced widespread criticism worldwide, with the United States and several European countries providing military equipment to Ukraine to defend itself against the Russian assault.
Russian Artist Critical of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison
A Russian artist, Alexandra Skochilenko, was sentenced to eight years in prison for protesting against the war in Ukraine by altering supermarket price tags. This case is seen as part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Russia, which has led to thousands of arrests. The situation highlights the ongoing repression of free expression in Russia amid the Ukraine conflict.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Russian artist Alexandra Skochilenko sentenced to eight years for anti-war protest against Ukraine invasion.
- Russian authorities arrest Alexandra Skochilenko
- Russian court sentence Alexandra Skochilenko
- Alexandra Skochilenko protest Russian government
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The case highlights the severe repercussions for dissent in Russia amid the Ukraine conflict.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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