Russian Court Sentences Ukrainian Woman to 12 Years in Russia for Peaceful Anti-War Protest

A Russian military court has sentenced Ukrainian Khrystyna Liubashenko to 12 years in prison for publicly playing an anti-war speech and a Ukrainian anthem, as well as releasing balloons with a Russian opposition flag.

Liubashenko, a 35-year-old mother of two daughters, was convicted on charges of "spreading disinformation about the war" and "participating in a terrorist organization," according to a Russian media outlet.

Her defense argued that she was deceived and coerced into coming to Moscow to participate in the protest.

Liubashenko, along with her two daughters, her mother who is battling cancer, and her grandfather who has dementia, fled Kyiv to Switzerland after the onset of the full-scale war in 2022, where they reportedly received asylum.

Facing financial difficulties, Liubashenko met a neighbor who claimed to be Vitalii Yurchenko, another Ukrainian refugee. Yurchenko allegedly lent her money to travel to Moscow and stage an anti-war demonstration, initially involving balloons in the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

Later, Yurchenko insisted on playing anti-war recordings and flying a white-blue-white flag associated with the Russian opposition and the Freedom of Russia Legion, which opposes the Kremlin. Last March, Russia declared the legion a "terrorist" organization, punishable by up to 20 years in prison for involvement.

Liubashenko initially refused these new demands, but Yurchenko allegedly threatened to report her to Swiss authorities, potentially leading to the removal of her daughters. The defense presented correspondence as evidence of blackmail.

Liubashenko was arrested on May 8, 2023. Her lawyer highlighted the swiftness with which law enforcement intervened, suggesting the protest may have been orchestrated to entrap her.

The defense requested the case be dismissed due to insufficient evidence, while the prosecution sought a 15-year prison term.

Initially, Liubashenko was held in pre-trial detention, and on June 17, the Second Western Military District Court sentenced the 35-year-old Ukrainian to 12 years in prison. Liubashenko spoke in Ukrainian in court and does not admit guilt.