A 39-year-old man from Zheleznogorsk in Siberia has been sentenced to three years in prison for defacing Russian military recruitment posters, regional authorities reported on Tuesday, December 10.
The man was accused of vandalizing 13 posters last June, which called on citizens to enlist in the Russian army. Authorities described his actions as “deliberate and intentional.”
A court found the man guilty of “discrediting” the Russian armed forces, a charge increasingly used to suppress dissent against Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This comes amid intensified efforts by the Russian government to stifle opposition since the war began in February 2022.
Thousands of citizens have faced sanctions, threats, or imprisonment for expressing dissent.
The case highlights broader trends in Russia, where arrests for charges such as treason, sabotage, espionage, and extremism have risen sharply. These charges often carry severe sentences.
Public campaigns in many regions continue to promote military enlistment with promises of financial incentives as the conflict approaches its third year.
