Russia jails student following attacks on army allegations

Published January 15th, 2024 - 08:59 GMT
Moscow
A security stands guard at the Zaryadye park off the Kremlin in central Moscow on January 11, 2024. (Photo by NATALIA KOLESNIKOVA / AFP)

ALBAWABA - Following speculations that a student in Russia is allegedly working with Ukrainian special services and planning sabotage attacks on military bases, local authorities announced Monday sentencing him to five years in jail.

Suspected of working with a foreign state, the student had been detained at the branch of the Federal Security Service (FSB) security services in the central Russian city of Kurgan. Russian media outlets received a statement announcing the five-year sentence. 

"The defendant planned to commit sabotage at military and social infrastructure facilities," the statement reads.

The FSB also claimed the student, whom it did not identify, intended to distribute pro-Ukrainian propaganda online and provide information about troop and law enforcement activity in the region.

Following the outbreak of large-scale hostilities in Ukraine, Russia criminalized military criticism and detained or fined thousands of people for speaking out against the fighting.
 

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