TALLINN, Estonia — A prominent lawyer in Russia, Dmitry Talantov, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for expressing his opposition to the war in Ukraine through social media. This recent ruling highlights the ongoing and severe measures taken by the Russian government to suppress dissent since the invasion of Ukraine commenced in February 2022, according to reports from Russian human rights organizations.
Talantov, who previously led a regional lawyers’ association in Udmurtia, has become one of many individuals arrested under a law enacted shortly after the start of the conflict, effectively criminalizing any public comments about the war that differ from the government’s official stance. The law specifically targets those accused of inciting hatred or disseminating false information regarding the Russian military, which has allowed the state to curtail free speech rigorously.
The human rights group OVD-Info stated that Talantov faced allegations for inciting hatred due to a series of social media posts where he criticized Russia’s military actions against Ukraine. At the age of 63, he has been in custody since June 2022 and has spent over two years behind bars. Throughout his trial, Talantov maintained his innocence and, according to OVD-Info, he expressed in a letter from prison that witnessing the suffering of civilians compelled him to voice his opinion, despite being aware that such an action could be perceived as a legal transgression.
On Thursday, the Zavyalovo court in Udmurtia found Talantov guilty, leading to his lengthy prison term. The data compiled by OVD-Info indicates that around 1,100 individuals have faced criminal charges due to their opposition to the war since February 2022, with approximately 340 currently detained or held in psychiatric facilities.
Before his arrest, Talantov was a well-respected figure in Udmurtia’s legal community and actively participated in high-profile cases, including defending former journalist Ivan Safronov. Safronov, who was charged with treason for revealing military-related wrongdoings and issues, was sentenced to 22 years in prison in September 2022, a case widely interpreted as a form of retribution for his investigative reporting.