On Wednesday, July 13, the court in Moscow ordered the detention of opposition member Ilya Yashin, who was accused of criticizing the Russian offensive in Ukraine, reports Radio Free Europe.
Thirty-nine-year-old Yashin, a member of the city parliament in Moscow and one of the last known critics of the Kremlin who is still in Russia - after the repression of sympathizers of the arrested opposition leader Alexei Navalny - will remain in prison at least until September 12, the court announced in response to the prosecution's request.
He is accused of "spreading false information" about the army, and faces a long prison sentence.
Spreading fake news about the Russian army is a new crime, introduced after the start of the war in Ukraine, which can result in 15 years in prison.
"Don't be afraid of these nothings, Russia will be free," shouted an opposition member in court after the announcement of the detention order.
He wrote on Facebook that it is "absurd" to claim that he "harmed the interests of Russia" with his statements.
Yashin points out that he defended Russia, "and its interests are being harmed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who dragged my Russia into war (with Ukraine), created a dictatorship of thieves and intimidates everyone who disagrees with him."
A dozen people were gathered around the court to support him.
Yashin's lawyer said yesterday that Russia's investigative committee had opened an investigation into the opposition for "spreading false news" about the Russian military, which was a day before Yashin was due to be released after serving a 15-day prison sentence.
On June 28, Jašin was sentenced to 15 days in prison for "disobedience to the police," which he called rigged, and was due to be released from prison on Wednesday.
The criminal investigation against him, for which he was detained, was initiated because on April 7 he spoke on YouTube about the "murder of civilians in Bucha" in Ukraine.
Another well-known opposition figure, Vladimir Kara-Murza, has been in custody since April on similar charges to those against Jashin.
On July 8, Moscow city councilor Alexei Gorinov was sentenced to seven years in prison for condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine.
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