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A Russian court on Monday sentenced prominent author Boris Akunin to 14 years in prison in absentia.
The 69-year-old, renowned for his historical detective novels, faced charges after publicly supporting Ukraine and suggesting a “revolution” in Russia.
Akunin, a long-standing critic of the Kremlin’s actions in Ukraine, was previously designated a “foreign agent” and added to Russia’s terrorism blacklist for his opposition to the conflict.
According to Mediazona, Moscow’s Second Western District Military Court found him guilty of “justifying terrorism” for a February 2024 Telegram post where he expressed support for a Russian revolution.
He was also convicted of “aiding terrorist activity” due to pro-Ukraine comments made during a phone call with Russian pranksters posing as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and for violating Russia’s “foreign agent” laws. Akunin himself dismissed the trial as a “farce.”
The Georgian-born writer, who has resided abroad since 2014, is among Russia’s most widely read contemporary authors.
Following its invasion of Ukraine, Moscow swiftly enacted laws criminalising any disparagement of its military, leading to the detention of thousands of war opponents.
Many prominent cultural figures have left Russia, while those who remain face severe censorship.
