Former Russian Colonel Sentenced to 4 Years for Extremism Charges, Accusing Putin of Ineffectiveness

Igor Girkin, the Putin critic who was convicted in absentia for his involvement in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, has been sentenced to four years in a penal colony in Russia. A Moscow court found him guilty of extremism charges, stemming from his public criticism of President Vladimir Putin and the army’s handling of the Ukraine war. Girkin, also known as Strelkov, had accused Putin and military leaders of not effectively pursuing the war in Ukraine and had even entertained the idea of running against Putin in an upcoming presidential election. The 53-year-old former colonel from the Russian spy service was arrested last year after setting up the Club of Angry Patriots, a group aimed at saving Russia from what he perceived as systemic turmoil resulting from military failures in Ukraine. In a strongly worded post on his Telegram channel, followed by over 760,000 people, Girkin insulted Putin and urged him to transfer power to someone more capable and responsible. Girkin’s conviction and sentencing highlight the increasing crackdown on dissenting voices in Russia and further cement Putin’s power. As Putin’s regime tightens its grip, critics and opposition figures face the risk of persecution and imprisonment for expressing their views. Girkin’s case serves as a chilling example of the consequences of speaking out against the Russian government, even for a former insider.