Russian Writer Gets Sentenced in Absentia
(MENAFN) A Russian tribunal has delivered a prison sentence in absentia to renowned author Grigory Chkhartishvili, better known under his pseudonym Boris Akunin.
The court found him guilty of promoting and defending acts of terrorism.
Akunin, who rose to fame through his works of historical fiction, has not resided in Russia since 2014.
He has consistently voiced strong opposition to the Russian authorities, particularly after tensions between Russia and Ukraine intensified.
In early 2024, Russian officials labeled Akunin a foreign agent.
This past Monday, a military tribunal handed him a 14-year prison sentence in his absence, along with a financial penalty of 400,000 rubles (equivalent to $5,000).
Prosecutors alleged that beginning in 2023, the writer had released several public remarks encouraging the violent overthrow of the Russian state.
In a Telegram post from February 2024, Akunin declared he no longer had faith in the potential for “evolutionary” reform within Russia and openly voiced his backing for revolutionary change.
Additionally, during a phone discussion in December 2023 with well-known Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus, Akunin reportedly stated his willingness to offer support to Ukraine.
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