World News | Russian opposition figure Yashin on trial

MOSCOW, Nov. 29 (AP) — A Moscow court began the trial Tuesday of a prominent Russian opposition figure facing charges for criticizing the Kremlin’s actions in Ukraine.

Ilya Yashin, one of a handful of Kremlin critics remaining in the country amid an intensified crackdown on dissent, has been detained since his arrest in July.

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He was accused of spreading false information about the military — a crime added to Ukraine’s criminal code after President Vladimir Putin sent troops into the country. If convicted, Yashin faces up to 10 years in prison.

The charges against Yashin relate to a live YouTube video in which he spoke of the killing of Ukrainians in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha. He denied the allegations were politically motivated.

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During his trial at Moscow’s Meshchansky District Court on Tuesday, Yashin argued that his case was fabricated and “had all the signs of an illegal political persecution.”

He noted that in the video, he quoted official Russian sources as well as Ukrainian statements in order to give viewers an objective perspective. (Associated Press)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)