Paediatrician's Plight: The Price of Speaking Out in Russia

A Moscow paediatrician, Nadezhda Buyanova, was sentenced to five and a half years in a Russian penal colony. The charge stemmed from a complaint by a patient's mother. Her sentencing highlights Russia's crackdown on dissent regarding the conflict in Ukraine, with widespread denunciations and prosecutions.

In a significant move, a Russian court sentenced Moscow paediatrician Nadezhda Buyanova to five and a half years in a penal colony. The decision follows allegations that she was spreading false information about the Russian military. The mother of one of her patients denounced her after the doctor purportedly criticized Russian soldiers in Ukraine.

This sentencing is part of a broader campaign in Russia targeting those who voice dissent against the ongoing Ukraine conflict. According to rights organization OVD-Info, over 1,000 individuals have faced prosecution for anti-war expressions, with thousands more detained during protests.

The charges against Buyanova were initiated by Russia's Investigative Committee following a complaint from Anastasia Akinshina, which claimed Buyanova made disparaging remarks about her ex-husband, a deceased Russian soldier. Despite Buyanova's denial and support from her colleagues, she faces years in prison under what some describe as a politically charged climate.

(With inputs from agencies.)