One of the most significant events in Russia’s social and political life — the Kirov District Court of Ufa sentenced journalist and activist Olga Komleva to 12 years in a general regime colony, reports the Bashkortostan courts’ unified press service on Telegram. She was convicted for participating in the activities of Alexei Navalny’s headquarters, which are recognized in Russia as an “extremist community”, and for "deliberately spreading false information about the Russian army".
According to court documents, Komleva committed the accused acts “on the basis of political and ideological hatred, as well as hostility towards a social group, as part of an organized group”. During the trial, she did not admit guilt and maintained her innocence.
Another important point: the court also imposed a one-year restriction of freedom on Komleva, as well as a five-year ban on managing websites and participating in mass events. These restrictions may seriously affect her journalistic activities and participation in civil society.
Olga Komleva is a cadastral engineer by profession, repeatedly participated in protests, and actively collaborated with the Rusnews media project. She is recognized as one of the journalists fighting for freedom of speech and civic activism in Russia. During the trial, she was repeatedly detained at rallies, fined, and worked as a volunteer at Navalny’s Ufa headquarters.
Experts and human rights defenders assess this verdict as pressure on freedom of speech and political activism. This case may mark the beginning of a new period of trials for independent journalists and activists in Russia. The fate of Olga Komleva and the consideration of her appeal remain in the focus of civil society and international organizations.
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