Russia sentences Ukrainian journalist Yanina Sokolova to 8 years in prison in absentia

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The Basmanny District Court of Moscow (Russia) sentenced Ukrainian journalist Yanina Sokolova to eight years in prison in absentia, reports Mediazona, citing the Moscow prosecutor's office.

The court convicted her of inciting international enmity (Clause A of Part 2 of Article 282 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, "acts aimed at inciting hatred and enmity, as well as humiliating the dignity of a group based on nationality, committed publicly through the use of the Internet and involving violent threats").

As reported by the media outlet, the case includes two episodes. The first one was Sokolova's interview with "Great Lviv Speaks" of the Ukrainian TV channel NTA in the summer of 2022. The Russian prosecutor said that the journalist "justified violence against Russians" in her speech.

Russia's Investigation Committee chair Alexander Bastrykin demanded in August 2022 that a case against Sokolova be opened. At that time, Russian pro-war Telegram channels posted a July 30, 2022 excerpt of the program, where Sokolova said that the Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine should not be taken prisoner.

The second episode was in the episode of the program "Evening with Yanina Sokolova" which was released on December 10, 2022. The Russian investigation claims that the journalist made a public statement that "incites contempt" and "justifies violence" against Russians. The video, which was titled "Rocket strike on Moscow. Dog bombs. Putin's body double" is currently unavailable.

In August 2023, the Russian MIA declared Ukrainian journalist Yanina Sokolova wanted. In March, the Rosfinmonitoring added Sokolova to the list of "terrorists and extremists".

We remind you that Yanina Sokolova is a Ukrainian journalist, TV presenter, author of the show "Rendez-Vous" on Channel 5 and the host of her own YouTube project "Evening with Yanina Sokolova".