Masha Gessen, a renowned Russian-American journalist and vocal critic of the Russian government, has been sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison by a Moscow court.
According to a report by The Times Of Israel, the sentence, handed down on Monday, was for allegedly spreading false information about the Russian military's actions in Ukraine.
Gessen, a frequent contributor to The New Yorker, was declared wanted in Russia last year after accusing the Russian army of committing atrocities in the Ukrainian city of Bucha in March 2022. The journalist claimed that Russian forces killed civilians in Bucha, a charge that the Kremlin has steadfastly denied. The Moscow city court service stated that Gessen was convicted for “knowingly spreading false information about the use of the Russian army.”
This conviction is part of a broader crackdown on independent reporting and dissent in Russia. Following its invasion of Ukraine, the Russian government quickly moved to criminalize independent journalism on the conflict and banned any criticism of its military operations. This repressive legal framework has been used to silence many critics, both domestic and international.
Gessen, who currently resides in the United States, has long been an outspoken opponent of President Vladimir Putin's regime. In addition to their journalism, Gessen is also a prominent LGBTQ activist. In 2012, they authored a critical biography of Putin, detailing the authoritarian tendencies and human rights abuses of his administration.