A military court in Moscow has sentenced Leonid Gozman, an exiled politician, to ten years in prison for terrorism justification. This verdict was issued in absentia, with authorities revealing the decision on Friday.
The Charges Against Gozman
The charges arose from an interview Gozman conducted with a foreign media outlet in 2023. According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, Gozman allegedly justified Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow and bomb attacks on the bridge connecting annexed Crimea to Russia.
Previous Sentences and Designation
- In 2022, Gozman received an in absentia sentence of eight and a half years for disseminating “false information” about the Russian military.
- This year, he was added to Rosfinmonitoring’s list of “terrorists and extremists.”
- Gozman fled Russia in September 2022 following two consecutive 15-day sentences connected to past blog posts comparing the Soviet government to Nazi Germany.
- He was labeled a “foreign agent” by the Justice Ministry earlier in 2022.
Political Background
Leonid Gozman was the last leader of the Union of Right Forces, a political party that included notable figures such as former Putin adviser Anatoly Chubais and opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, who was tragically assassinated. This party dissolved in 2008.
The recent judicial actions against Gozman are seen as part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Russia. As the political climate continues to shift, Gozman’s case highlights the challenges faced by opposition voices in the country.
