Key takeaways:
- Irina Tsybaneva, 60, was found guilty of desecrating burial places motivated by political hatred.
- The case against Tsybaneva is seen as a warning to those who would criticize the president.
- The government has introduced a series of laws that restrict the activities of non-governmental organizations and media outlets.
A St. Petersburg woman was given a two-year suspended sentence on Thursday after leaving a note on the grave of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s parents that said they had “raised a freak and a killer.”
Irina Tsybaneva, 60, was found guilty of desecrating burial places motivated by political hatred. The note, which was placed on the guarded grave on the eve of Putin’s birthday in October, read: “Parents of a maniac, take him to your place. You raised a freak and a killer.”
Tsybaneva’s lawyer said she did not plead guilty because she had not desecrated the grave physically or sought publicity for her action. Since Putin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, the government has waged a crackdown on dissent and criticism of the president.
The court’s decision comes amid a wider clampdown on freedom of speech in Russia. In recent years, the government has introduced a series of laws that restrict the activities of non-governmental organizations and media outlets.
The case against Tsybaneva is seen as a warning to those who would criticize the president. It is a reminder that the government will not tolerate any form of dissent and that those who challenge the status quo will face consequences.
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