Russian Doctor Sentenced to Prison After Patient’s Mother Reports War Comments

A Moscow court sentenced pediatrician Nadezhda Buyanova to 5½ years in a penal colony Tuesday for allegedly spreading “fakes” about the Russian army, after a patient’s mother publicly denounced the 68-year-old doctor over comments she denies making.

The case, stemming from a video complaint by Anastasia Akinshina about remarks concerning her son’s father who died fighting in Ukraine, represents a growing trend of Russians informing on fellow citizens for perceived political crimes. Rights group OVD-Info has documented 21 such criminal prosecutions since February 2022, with an additional 175 administrative cases resulting from civilian informants.

“I can’t get my head around it,” said Buyanova, her grey hair closely cropped, before the verdict that sparked cries of “Shame!” in the courtroom filled with supporters wearing T-shirts bearing her image. Her lawyer, Oscar Cherdzhiev, called the sentence “monstrously cruel” in comments to news outlet Mediazona.

The investigation began after Akinshina recorded a video claiming Buyanova had called her ex-husband, killed in Ukraine, a “legitimate target.” The footage was shared by Mash, a Telegram channel with over 3 million subscribers known for connections to Russian security services. Buyanova has consistently denied making the statement.

More than 1,000 Russians have faced criminal prosecution for speaking against the war, according to OVD-Info, with over 20,000 detained for protesting. Eva Levenberg, a lawyer for the rights group, told Reuters that 79 people have been fined in administrative cases for “discrediting” the Russian army following civilian denunciations.

Russian doctors have rallied to Buyanova’s defense, writing an open letter calling the denunciation a “disgrace.” A petition supporting her release has gathered more than 6,000 signatures.