A Russian pediatrician faces over 5 years in prison for alleged anti-war comments, sparking outrage and raising concerns about free speech in Putin’s Russia.
At a Glance
- Dr. Nadezhda Buyanova, 68, sentenced to 5.5 years for “spreading false information” about Russian military
- Conviction based on testimony from a 7-year-old patient, despite lack of concrete evidence
- Case highlights crackdown on anti-war sentiment in Russia, with over 1,000 similar cases since March 2022
- Defense claims accusation was fabricated due to animosity towards Ukrainians
- Over 6,500 people signed a petition for Buyanova’s release, as rights groups condemn the verdict
Controversial Conviction Raises Eyebrows
Dr. Nadezhda Buyanova, a 68-year-old pediatrician, has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison. Her crime? Allegedly expressing anti-war sentiments to a child patient. This case has thrown a spotlight on the Putin government’s increasingly draconian measures against dissent amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
Yes, you go to prison in Russia if you disagree with the government publicly.
The conviction relies heavily on the testimony of a 7-year-old boy, whose mother, Anastasia Akinshina, initially claimed he wasn’t even present during the supposed incident. This glaring inconsistency has only fueled skepticism about the validity of the charges. Buyanova was accused of telling the patient that his father, a Russian soldier, was a “legitimate target” for Ukrainian forces – a claim she vehemently denies.
A 68-year-old Russian pediatrician could face 6 years in prison after a patient accused her of making critical remarks about the war in Ukraine. https://t.co/pAfMY2LCH8
— Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (@RFERL) November 8, 2024
A Chilling Effect on Free Speech
The case against Buyanova is part of a broader crackdown on dissent in Russia. Since March 2022, “spreading false information” about the army has been criminalized, with over 1,000 people implicated in related cases. This sweeping legislation has been wielded as a weapon against political opponents and anyone daring to question the official narrative of the Ukraine conflict.
“A doctor, especially a pediatrician, is not capable of wishing harm to a child, his mother, or traumatizing the child’s psyche. Only a monster is capable of this — and of the words that I allegedly said to them,” the doctor said, according to Mediazona.
The prosecution’s case against Buyanova was notably thin on evidence. No audio recordings or CCTV footage corroborated the claims against her. Instead, prosecutors relied on a pretrial interview with the child, who was not allowed to testify in court. This lack of substantive proof has led many to question the integrity of the judicial process.
Outcry and Implications
The verdict has sparked widespread condemnation. Over 6,500 people have signed a petition calling for Buyanova’s release, while human rights organizations and fellow medical professionals have rallied to her defense. The Russian rights organization Memorial has labeled Buyanova a political prisoner, underscoring the case’s significance in the broader context of civil liberties in Russia.
“Those phrases like ‘legitimate target’ and ‘aggression’ — I very much doubt that a young child can say that, let alone remember and repeat it,” lawyer Leonid Solovyev said.
The implications of this case extend far beyond Buyanova herself. It sets a dangerous precedent for punishing any expression of anti-war sentiment in Russia, no matter how private or innocuous. Moreover, it raises serious concerns about the independence of the judiciary and the influence of high-ranking officials like Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, who reportedly played a key role in pushing for Buyanova’s prosecution.
Look at what’s happening in Russia…and think about what life might have been like if we’d elected Kamala Harris. That’s exactly how authoritarian America nearly became…
