The Russian Supreme Court has confirmed a 16-year prison sentence for 68-year-old dissident Alexander Skobov, rejecting an appeal from his lawyer. Skobov was previously convicted of justifying terrorism and participating in the activities of a terrorist organization.
During the court proceedings, which were conducted via video link, Skobov stated that he supported the appeal in order to address the court directly. He urged European nations to engage in the conflict and defeat the Russian Federation. Skobov characterized Russia as his “armed adversary” and expressed a desire for the demise of what he referred to as the “Russian-fascist invaders,” including Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he labeled a “new Hitler.”
The charges against Skobov stemmed from his involvement in the “Free Russia Forum” and a social media post regarding an explosion at the Kerch Bridge. His history as a dissident dates back to 1978 when he was first arrested at the age of 20 for distributing anti-Soviet leaflets, leading to his commitment to a psychiatric hospital. He was released in 1981, only to be institutionalized again in 1985 for painting anti-Soviet slogans on walls.
Skobov was involved in one of the last cases of anti-Soviet agitation, which was closed in 1989 following the removal of the relevant article from the Criminal Code. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, he actively opposed the war in Chechnya and organized opposition rallies in St. Petersburg. In 2022, he publicly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and called for support for the Ukrainian armed forces.
The Russian Supreme Court has upheld a lengthy prison sentence for dissident Alexander Skobov, who has a history of political activism and opposition to the government. Skobov's conviction relates to his calls for action against Russia, reflecting his longstanding dissidence and involvement in anti-government activities.