When the so-called Yarovaya amendments were introduced, increasing prison sentences for «extremist and terrorist offenses,» far-sighted Russians already understood where this would lead. Especially considering that in Putin’s Russia anything can be considered extremism, and expressing thoughts out loud or sending money to prisoners or for building wells in Africa can be equated with terrorism. Such cases are largely falsified, and one cannot rely on the independence and objectivity of the courts.
The first signs for society should have been the new sentences imposed on members of Hizb ut-Tahrir — a peaceful political party that operates freely in the majority of civilized countries, but is recognized as terrorist in Russia. Before the Yarovaya Laws, individuals were sentenced to several years for membership in this party. But after they were passed, the sentences increased to 15-20 years and more.
And now it’s the turn of other Russians who have fallen under the repressive system. Yesterday, the Penza court sentenced seven men accused of involvement in the anarchist organization «The Network». In total, they were sentenced to 86 years of imprisonment, with each person receiving 6 to 18 years of deprivation of liberty.
It is noteworthy in this case that the convicted «terrorists», as is usual in such cases in Putin’s Russia, did not kill anyone or explode anything. However, according to law enforcement officials, they were preparing to do so. Although they «learned» about their plans by chance when the security forces arrested a witness with drugs, who then informed them about his terrorist friends, after which he was released. Subsequently, their friends were arrested one by one, and weapons were «found» in their homes. They themselves began to confess their plans to wage a terrorist war in the country.
However, according to the relatives of the boys, the weapons «found» on them were planted, and the confessions against themselves were obtained under severe torture, as many human rights activists believe.
But these are only minor details. The main point here is that some of them had an active civic position and were apparently dissatisfied with the current government. Therefore, according to the logic of the current regime, they were potential terrorists. And in Russia it is customary to fight «terrorists» at the earliest stage, so that they don’t have a chance to act on their words.
Of course, this does not correspond to justice. However, it is effective for the current authorities in eliminating their potential opponents.