“I will appeal!”: the Moscow court sentenced Platoshkin
The Gagarinsky District Court of Moscow today sentenced political scientist Nikolai Platoshkin.
He was sentenced to five years probation and a fine of 700 thousand rubles, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
The prosecutor asked for a real six-year sentence for Platoshkin. The defendant came to the hearing with a bag packed to be sent to prison. Previously, Platoshkin was under house arrest.
The political scientist was found guilty of “inducing or otherwise involving persons in committing mass riots,” as well as “public dissemination of knowingly false information that poses a threat to the life and safety of citizens.”
From March to June 2020, Platoshkin produced video and audio materials in which he stated that the authorities were guilty of the pandemic and the ineffectiveness of measures to combat the current situation, as well as the violation of the constitutional rights of citizens. He advocated the abolition of the pension reform and against amendments to the Constitution. In addition, Platoshkin tried to organize unauthorized rallies under the guise of legal ones.
After the end of the meeting, the political scientist went out to the crowd of his supporters standing under the court building. They hugged the political scientist and chanted “Victory.” Platoshkin said he would appeal the verdict.
"I'll appeal !": Moscow court sentences Platoshkin