Russian officials are pursuing a six-year prison sentence for a pediatrician charged with publicly criticizing the ongoing war in Ukraine in front of one of her young patients and the child’s mother, according to independent news outlet Mediazona on Friday.

Dr. Nadezhda Buyanova, 68, is facing her case amid a wave of legal actions against individuals in Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022. This has led to a significant crackdown on opposition figures, independent media, and citizens expressing dissent.

Her arrest occurred in February after the mother of a patient reported her. The complaint alleged that Dr. Buyanova told her patient that his father, who had died while serving as a Russian soldier in Ukraine, was a legitimate target for Ukrainian forces and criticized Russia for its role in the conflict.

She has been charged with disseminating false information about the military, a serious offense introduced shortly after the invasion that has frequently been invoked against dissenters. Buyanova has denied the allegations, maintaining that she never made the statements attributed to her.

The defense team for Dr. Buyanova contended that the prosecution did not provide sufficient evidence to support the claim that the conversation actually took place. They also suggested that the accuser, originally from Lviv in Ukraine, may have fabricated the account due to personal biases against Ukrainians, as reported by Mediazona.

During her final remarks in court, Dr. Buyanova expressed emotional distress over the charges, describing it as “painful” to read the accusations outlined in the indictment and became visibly upset.

Human rights organization OVD-Info has reported that over 1,000 individuals have faced legal consequences in the wake of the conflict for speaking out or protesting against the war in Ukraine, reflecting the broader environment of repression against dissent in Russia.