In a case spotlighting the harsh consequences of dissent in Russia, a St Petersburg artist, Aleksandra Skochilenko, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for a protest against the war in Ukraine. The trial underscores the stringent penalties faced by ordinary Russians for even minor acts of civil protest. Skochilenko, an artist, musician, and activist, was found guilty of “knowingly spreading false information about the Russian army” after replacing supermarket price tags with notes urging shoppers to resist war propaganda.
The altered price tags contained messages such as “Putin has been lying to us from television screens for 20 years,” and “The Russian army bombed an art school in Mariupol.” Prosecutors deemed these messages as dangerous to Russian society and state security. Skochilenko is among numerous Russians facing criminal charges related to opposition against the war, with many charged under laws against spreading “fake” information about the military introduced after Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The sentencing has prompted concerns about the stifling effect these laws have had on public dissent in Russia, contributing to a notable absence of opposition displays against the war. Skochilenko, declared a political prisoner by Russian human rights group Memorial, emphasized the disproportionate response to her protest, challenging the prosecutor’s belief in the fragility of the state and society.
As Skochilenko faces imprisonment, the case highlights the broader trend of suppressing dissenting voices in Russia, with severe consequences for those challenging the government’s narrative on the war in Ukraine. The sentencing raises questions about the state’s commitment to freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest.