Russian Pediatrician Sentenced to 5 Years for Alleged Anti-War Remarks

Dr. Nadezhda Buyanova's conviction highlights Russia's crackdown on dissent amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Dr. Nadezhda Buyanova, a 68-year-old pediatrician, was sentenced to five and a half years in a penal colony for allegedly spreading false information about the Russian military.
The case began when Anastasia Akinshina accused Buyanova of making derogatory comments about her deceased ex-husband, a Russian soldier, during a medical consultation.
Buyanova, who denies the allegations, was convicted despite a lack of concrete evidence such as audio recordings, relying instead on testimonies from Akinshina and her son.
The case is part of a broader trend of increasing repression in Russia, where over 1,000 people have faced criminal charges for anti-war statements since the Ukraine conflict began.
Human rights organizations and supporters have condemned the verdict, labeling it excessively harsh and an example of the Kremlin's efforts to silence dissent.