The Meshchansky Court in Moscow has handed down a sentence to former Moscow deputy Ilya Yashin, who has been recognized as a foreign agent by the decision of the Russian Ministry of Justice. He received 8 years and 6 months in a general regime penal colony for disseminating what the authorities described as false information about the actions of the Russian Armed Forces. The information appeared to concern the Russian military operation in Ukraine, and the verdict was reported by TASS at the time of the ruling [Citation: TASS].
Judge Oksana Goryunova announced the verdict, stating that Yashin should serve the total term in a general regime colony. The judge also ruled that, for the duration of his sentence, Yashin would be prohibited from managing political websites for four years, and that the time he has already spent in detention would be credited toward the sentence, counted as one and a half days per day of detention. Additionally, the court ordered the return of a seized mobile phone to him as part of the decision [Citation: TASS].
In explaining the decision, the court cited factors such as Yashin’s lack of a prior criminal record, positive references from colleagues, and the responsibility of caring for elderly parents as mitigating circumstances that weighed in his favor. The court’s assessment noted these elements as part of the overall context surrounding the case and the defendant’s personal background [Citation: TASS].
Prior reports had indicated that the court had found Yashin guilty of spreading false information about the Russian Armed Forces’ actions during the operation in Ukraine. The case has drawn attention to the restrictions faced by political figures and public commentators who challenge official narratives within the country [Citation: TASS].
Authorities announced that the ruling would be publicly announced on 7 December, but a security incident on December 9 forced an evacuation of the building after an anonymous warning of a potential “mining” was received. The evacuation prompted the arrival of specialists and detection dogs, underscoring the heightened security environment surrounding high-profile legal proceedings in the capital [Citation: TASS].
During discussions preceding the verdict, prosecutors argued for a longer sentence, recommending nine years in a general regime colony. Investigators asserted that the defendant, representing the Krasnoselsky district in Moscow, had disseminated information alleging civilian deaths in Bucha during a live broadcast on his YouTube channel. The dispute over the appropriate penalty and the factual characterization of his broadcast reflected broader tensions between state authorities and figures who contest official military narratives in the public sphere [Citation: TASS].
Observers note that the case highlights ongoing legal and political dynamics in Russia related to the labeling of information about military actions as false or prohibited. The outcome has implications for how public discourse and online communications by politicians and commentators are regulated, particularly under laws that govern information about national security and the armed forces. The sentence, its terms, and the accompanying restrictions are being analyzed in the broader context of media freedom, legal accountability, and the treatment of individuals who hold public roles in major metropolitan centers like Moscow [Citation: TASS].