A Russian court on Thursday sentenced Dmitry Talantov, a popular attorney who as soon as defended imprisoned reporter Ivan Safronov, to seven years in prison for criticizing Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine on social media.Talantov was jailed in July 2022 after he compared Russian military actions in the Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Bucha to Nazi practices.
He was charged under a censorship law presented soon after the invasion, accused of spreading fake details about the Russian army and prompting hatred.Talantov, the former head of the Udmurtia Bar Association, formerly represented Safronov, a journalist focusing on military affairs whose 22-year treason sentence in 2021 surprised Russias media community.During his psychological court declaration, Talantov revealed doubts about surviving his prison sentence but stood by his criticism of the war.
I am 64, and it is difficult for me to picture coming out of prison alive, he said in a recording released by the rights group Perviy Otdel.Talantov described severe conditions in detention, including spending 2 years in singular confinement in what he called a Medieval cell with just a toilet hole and a tap.
He stated isolation was compounded by the Russian national anthem blaring at dawn and sunset, followed by pro-Kremlin radio broadcasts.
I am waiting for words of peace.
They do not come, he stated.
Resolving his spouse, he included: Olga, forgive me.
I enjoy you.
Talantov was detained at his dacha in 2022.
His arrest stimulated outrage amongst Russias legal community, with more than 300 attorneys signing a petition requiring his release.