CNN
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Igor Girkin, a prominent Russian pro-war blogger who criticized President Vladimir Putin’s handling of the war on Ukraine, has been found guilty on extremism charges and sentenced to four years in prison by a Moscow court.
Girkin, also known as Strelkov, a former officer of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and an ex-military commander, played a significant role in Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the early stages of invading Donbas. He later became a well-known Russian military blogger with over half a million followers on Telegram.
He was also closely associated with the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in July 2014 and was convicted in absentia of mass murder for his involvement in the tragedy.
In addition to his prison sentence, he was banned from accessing the internet, effectively preventing him from publicly criticizing Putin’s leadership.
Girkin was arrested in July and charged with inciting extremist activities after becoming increasingly critical of Putin and his military’s actions in Ukraine.
His detention occurred following the failed rebellion by Wagner mercenaries in Russia, during a time when Putin’s hold on power seemed more precarious than ever.
Approximately 100 of his supporters gathered outside the Moscow court on Thursday to protest his sentencing.
Girkin’s wife expressed concern about being unable to see her husband for six months. She stated, “Today I am very worried now. To be honest, I have a storm of negative emotions,” and expressed hope for her husband’s eventual release, particularly after the upcoming elections, as she perceives the current situation as a purge of Russian heroes.
Girkin is one of Russia’s well-known “milbloggers,” a group of war correspondents supporting the invasion but increasingly critical of the military’s struggles in Ukraine, advocating for a tougher approach.
Last spring, he co-founded an ultra-nationalist political group called the Angry Patriots Club, warning of impending severe internal political changes in Russia.
However, just days before his arrest, Girkin heightened his criticisms of Putin, referring to the president as a “lowlife” and a “cowardly bum” in a scathing post on his Telegram channel.
Girkin, a former colonel in Russia’s FSB and former defense minister in the separatist Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in eastern Ukraine, was found to have contributed to the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 by a court in the Netherlands. The court in 2022 found Girkin guilty of mass murder for his involvement in the incident and sentenced him in absentia to life in prison.
According to the court, Girkin participated in conflicts in Chechnya, Transnistria, and Bosnia.
This story has been updated with further developments.
