Yabloko party official Maxim Kruglov sentenced to seven years in prison

Maxim Kruglov, the 39-year-old deputy chairman of the liberal Yabloko party and a former Moscow municipal deputy, was sentenced to seven years in prison. The court found him guilty of spreading false information about the Russian military regarding posts he made on the Telegram messaging app in 2022. Kruglov, who pleaded not guilty, maintained that the charges were politically motivated and argued that his career was dedicated to improving life in Russia. He stated that his conviction serves as proof that the authorities will not tolerate public dissent. The prosecution had claimed that his actions were driven by political hatred, an accusation he categorically denied during the proceedings. This verdict comes shortly before the upcoming Russian parliamentary elections, in which his party intends to participate. Meanwhile, the Kremlin asserts that its censorship laws are essential for national unity during its ongoing conflict with the West.