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A court in the Russian capital on Tuesday extended the detention period of a municipal lawmaker accused of discrediting the Russian military following his criticism of Russia’s military action in Ukraine.
Moscow’s Meshchansky District Court ordered that Alexei Gorinov be remanded in custody pending his trial.
Gorinov, a member of Moscow City Council Krasnoselsky district council, has been held in prison since his arrest in April. He was accused of discrediting the country’s military after speaking out against Russian military action in Ukraine during the council session in March.
Addressing the court on Tuesday, Gorinov denied the allegations and insisted that he was simply expressing his political views, stressing that “what I said was my personal opinion and belief.”
He could face a fine or up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Gorinov’s lawyers asked the court to release him from prison and place him under house arrest, noting that he was suffering from tuberculosis, but the court rejected the request and decided that Gorinov should remain in prison until November 19.
Gorinov is the first Russian municipal lawmaker to face charges of discrediting the country’s armed forces – a new criminal bill introduced after the start of the Russian campaign in Ukraine that the government describes as a “special military operation”. Critics of the Kremlin have denounced it as part of the authorities’ efforts to silence those who do not agree with the occupation of Ukraine and the control of information in the country.
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