A Russian North Caucasian opera singer has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for calling on his hometown to protest coronavirus lockdown measures in the early weeks of the pandemic, state news agency TASS reported. . reported.
In April 2020, Vadim Shediyev posted a video calling on people to attend a planned protest against Covid-19 restrictions in Vladikavkaz, the capital of the Russian republic of North Ossetia, fearing the lockdown could cost many jobs. local. The baritone was detained shortly after and initially accused of spreading “fakes” about the pandemic.
A court in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on Tuesday found Cheheldiyev guilty of broadcasting calls for unauthorized mass protests and sentenced him to 10 years in prison. maximum security.
About 1,000 people gathered for the April 2020 protest in Vladikavkaz, despite lockdown measures, to demand the resignation of local authorities and the release of Chediyev.
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Over 100 protesters were arrested in clashes with police. At least 20 protest participants faced criminal charges, according to human rights lawyer Pavel Chikov.
Prosecutors determined that Sheldiyev — the recipient of the state Honored Artist of North Ossetia — was the organizer of the rally alongside local activists Ramis Chirkinov and Arsen Besolov.
Shelidiyev was found guilty of violating several articles of the Russian Criminal Code, including incitement to extremist activities and participation in mass riots. The singer was also convicted of hitting a police officer during his arrest, a charge brought by his lawyer. disputed.
Besolov and Chirkinov were also sentenced to eight and a half and eight years respectively in a maximum security prison.
The three defendants have the possibility of appealing their sentences within 10 days.
Russia dropped its few remaining Covid-19 restrictions earlier this month.
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