EU Condemns Russia’s Sentencing of Political Prisoner Alexei Gorinov

Brussels (Eurotoday) – The European Union condemned Russia’s sentencing of Alexei Gorinov, calling it politically motivated and urging his release.

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has released a statement regarding the new sentence of political prisoner Alexei Gorinov condemning the military court.

On 29 Nov 2024, a military court in the city of Vladimir, eastern Russia, convicted the political prisoner Alexei Gorinov, an ex-opposition municipal deputy in the Krasnoselsky district of Moscow, to a new additional sentence of three years in prison for “justifying terrorism,” after he allegedly exchanged opinions on Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine with his cellmates. 

According to the European Union press, the High Representative blank” rel=”noopener”>criticized the sentence saying “This sham trial highlights yet again Russia’s continuous efforts to suppress freedom of expression and peaceful dissent. The late court decision is politically motivated and unacceptable. Russian authorities must stop the repression and release Alexei Gorinov and all other political prisoners in Russia immediately and unconditionally.”

Alexei Gorinov has been arbitrarily imprisoned since April 2022 for his public anti-war perspective on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. In prison, he persists in being inhumanly treated and refused necessary medical care, despite having a severe lung disease. This results in further health decline and amounts to torture.