Russia sentences famous writer and opposition figure to 14 years in a penal colony
Boris Akunin (photo: Getty Images)
Writer Boris Akunin (real name — Grigory Chkhartishvili) was tried in absentia in Russia. He was accused of "justifying terrorism."
RBC-Ukraine explains what the "verdict" of the Russian court was and how Akunin himself reacted to it.
Why Akunin was sentenced to a penal colony
On July 14, the so-called Russian military court announced an in absentia "verdict" for the writer. He was sentenced to 14 years in a penal colony and fined 400,000 rubles. In addition, he was "banned" from administering his social media pages for five years after serving his "term."
The verdict turned out to be less severe than what the Russian state prosecution had requested — it had sought 18 years of imprisonment.
Akunin was accused in a case involving the "justification of terrorism" and violation of the law on foreign agents. Russian media also claimed that the writer did not plead guilty and that a lawyer allegedly represented his interests in court.
Akunin’s reaction
The opposition figure commented on the Russian court’s "verdict" on his Telegram channel, calling the entire process a "farce."
"TASS (Russian state-owned news agency - ed.), as it often does, is lying. It’s not that 'I don’t admit my guilt’ — I don’t recognize their court. I did not authorize any lawyer to represent me at their so-called trial, and I am not taking part in this farce in any way," Akunin wrote.
Akunin responds to Russians (screenshot)
Where Boris Akunin is now
The writer lived in Moscow until 2014. After Russia occupied Crimea, he signed an open letter in which members of the Russian intelligentsia criticized the Kremlin’s actions.
Following the events of 2014, Akunin left Russia. At the beginning of the full-scale war launched by the aggressor state on February 24, 2022, the opposition figure condemned Putin’s regime. He is also known to have expressed support for the Freedom of Russia Legion.
"I wish you to stay alive and unharmed. May this madness end as soon as possible, may Russia become a normal country, and may Ukraine live in peace," Akunin said.
In January 2024, the author of the detective series about Erast Fandorin was labeled a foreign agent in Russia. He was accused of "discrediting" the Russian army.
Sources: Russian media, Akunin’s Telegram channel, Wikipedia.
