Russian Blogger Critical of Authorities Jailed for Six Years

[Rogue Valley]

Russian Blogger Critical of Authorities Jailed for Six Years | The Moscow Times

Alexander Valov hearing his sentence in a Russian kangaroo court.

12/26/18
A Russian blogger critical of the authorities was sentenced to six years in prison on Wednesday, his lawyer said, in an extortion case critics say is politically motivated. Alexander Valov, whose blog had been critical of the authorities in the southern Russian city of Sochi, was charged earlier this year with extorting money from federal lawmaker Yury Napso. Valov was accused of extorting 300,000 roubles ($4,330) from Napso, allegedly in exchange for deleting blog posts about a private swimming pool allegedly built by the lawmaker on a municipal beach in the Black Sea resort city. Valov has denied any wrongdoing.

Valov's lawyer, Alexander Popkov, told Reuters the defence would appeal the verdict, which he said was "cruel." "We knew that we wouldn't get an honest and fair verdict," Popkov said. "There was a very profound political subtext throughout the case." Napso's office and the Sochi court that delivered the verdict could not immediately be reached for comment. Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny wrote on Twitter that Valov "is being locked up purely because of politics" and that his sentence looked harsh. "Six years — that's what you get for a murder," Navalny wrote. Advocacy groups including Reporters Without Borders had called for Valov's release during his pre-trial detention.

The typical Kremlin modus operandi for getting rid of regime opponents. Fabricate a financial case using a corrupt official as the basis. The [compromised and ensnared] corrupted official will testify how he is told to testify in order to stay put of prison. The foregone guilty verdict is rendered. The only variable at the outset is the length of sentence. This is "justice" in Putin's Russia.

btw Dept ... A draconian law imposing restrictions on users of social media went into effect on 1 August 2014 in Russia. Any Russian blog that receives 3,000 visitors a day or more must register with Roskomnadzor (the mass media regulator) as well as conform to the regulations that govern the country’s larger media outlets. Bloggers can no longer remain anonymous and the Russian government must have access to all of the bloggers information. In practical terms, this law severely limits a blogger’s ability to speak freely in Russia. Social networks must maintain six months of data on its users. Social media information must be stored on servers based in Russian territory so that government authorities can gain access at any time and for any reason.

Related: Russian Blogger Critical of Authorities Jailed for Six Years: Lawyer

 

[Helix]

the good thing about dictators is that they are mortal. the bad thing about them is that they tend to live a very long time and do a lot of damage before they trot off to hell.

 

[Hawkeye10]

Russian Blogger Critical of Authorities Jailed for Six Years | The Moscow Times

Alexander Valov hearing his sentence in a Russian kangaroo court.



The typical Kremlin modus operandi for getting rid of regime opponents. Fabricate a financial case using a corrupt official as the basis. The [compromised and ensnared] corrupted official will testify how he is told to testify in order to stay put of prison. The foregone guilty verdict is rendered. The only variable at the outset is the length of sentence. This is "justice" in Putin's Russia.

btw Dept ... A draconian law imposing restrictions on users of social media went into effect on 1 August 2014 in Russia. Any Russian blog that receives 3,000 visitors a day or more must register with Roskomnadzor (the mass media regulator) as well as conform to the regulations that govern the country’s larger media outlets. Bloggers can no longer remain anonymous and the Russian government must have access to all of the bloggers information. In practical terms, this law severely limits a blogger’s ability to speak freely in Russia. Social networks must maintain six months of data on its users. Social media information must be stored on servers based in Russian territory so that government authorities can gain access at any time and for any reason.

Related: Russian Blogger Critical of Authorities Jailed for Six Years: Lawyer

China and their junior partner Russia are in complete agreement on this sort of thing. If the West does die expect to see more of this at home too, though we already do see politically motivated prosecutions, for instance from Mueller.

 

[Rogue Valley]

China and their junior partner Russia are in complete agreement on this sort of thing. If the West does die expect to see more of this at home too, though we already do see politically motivated prosecutions, for instance from Mueller.

This is about a Russian blogger, not the West. Stay on topic plz.

 

[Hawkeye10]

This is about a Russian blogger, not the West. Stay on topic plz.

Guys like me dont think inside the box like others do, that is what makes us so valuable.

 

[Chagos]

Guys like me dont think inside the box like others do, that is what makes us so valuable.

Yeah well, maybe you can address your thinking inside or out of wherever towards NOT derailing a thread.

And actually show some value for the first time here.:roll:

 

[Hawkeye10]

Yeah well, maybe you can address your thinking inside or out of wherever towards NOT derailing a thread.

And actually show some value for the first time here.:roll:

I did the opposite, I showed why this thread matters, why Americans should care.

 

[Rogue Valley]

Yeah well, maybe you can address your thinking inside or out of wherever towards NOT derailing a thread.

And actually show some value for the first time here.:roll:

You're suggesting the impossible.

 

[TheParser]

As a lifelong coward, I do so admire people like Mr. Valov.

He is willing to be imprisoned in order to speak his mind.

Wow! He deserves everyone's respect.

Of course, most Russians keep their mouth shut about Czar Putin.

And most Americans do the same at school or at work about politically incorrect topics.

There is something wonderful about the human spirit: There are always a few people who are willing to suffer in defense of their conscience.