A Russian poet has been handed a seven-year prison sentence for reciting verses against Russia’s war in Ukraine. Artyom Kamardin was convicted by Moscow’s Tverskoi District Court on charges of undermining national security and inciting hatred. The charges stemmed from Kamardin’s performance of his anti-war poems during a street gathering in downtown Moscow in September 2022. Another participant, Yegor Shtovba, also received a harsh sentence of 5 1/2 years on the same charges.
The gathering took place near the monument to poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, shortly after President Vladimir Putin ordered the mobilization of 300,000 reservists due to Moscow’s military setbacks in Ukraine. The move prompted a massive wave of people fleeing Russia to avoid military conscription.
During the street performance, police swiftly dispersed the event and subsequently arrested Kamardin and several others. According to reports from Russian media, friends of Kamardin and his lawyer claimed that he was subjected to beatings and rape during his arrest. A police video released by pro-Kremlin media showed Kamardin apologizing for his actions, with visible bruises on his face.
Furthermore, allegations of abuse by the police have not been investigated by the authorities. Kamardin’s wife, Alexandra Popova, voiced her outrage in the courtroom after the verdict, shouting Shame! As a result, she was escorted out by bailiffs, and later detained along with several others on charges of holding an unsanctioned rally outside the court building.
This case is part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Russia in recent months. Since the end of February 2022, nearly 20,000 people have been detained for speaking out or protesting against the war, with 794 individuals facing criminal charges related to their anti-war stance, according to the OVD-Info rights group, which monitors political arrests and provides legal support.
The crackdown has been made possible by a law enacted by Moscow shortly after sending troops to Ukraine, effectively criminalizing any public expression that deviates from the official narrative regarding the war.
Despite the harsh punishment handed down to Kamardin and Shtovba, activists and human rights advocates continue to highlight the erosion of freedom of expression in Russia. The international community has also expressed concern over Russia’s crackdown on dissent and the curbing of civil liberties.
As the Kremlin intensifies its efforts to suppress opposition voices, many fear that freedom of expression will continue to be stifled, posing challenges to the country’s democratic values and principles.
