Russia Sentences Prominent Putin Critic Girkin to 4 Years for Extremism
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Igor Girkin is a former Russian FSB officer who commanded pro-Russia militias in eastern Ukraine in 2014. He was convicted in absentia for the downing of flight MH17.
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In 2022, Girkin became a prominent pro-war blogger, criticizing Russia for not waging war in Ukraine aggressively enough. He insulted Putin, calling him a "cowardly waste of space."
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This week, Girkin was convicted in Moscow on extremism charges for his criticism of Putin, and sentenced to 4 years in a penal colony.
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His supporters protested the conviction but turned out in small numbers. The conviction signals a Russian crackdown on pro-war critics from the nationalist end of the spectrum.
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The crackdown comes after last year's Wagner mercenary mutiny raised Kremlin concerns about threats from highly patriotic elements in Russian society.