The judge of the Khamovniki District Court of Moscow, Diana Mishchenko, sentenced poet Vyacheslav Malakhov to two years in a penal colony in the case of 'discrediting' the army. He was also banned from administering internet pages for two years after serving his sentence, reported the human rights project 'OVD-Info'*. The prosecution requested 3.5 years in a penal colony for Malakhov.
In his final words, the poet expressed sincere remorse for his actions: 'Over these nine months, I have seen a lot, and at this moment, I am in no way an enemy of any law enforcement agency; their work is necessary and important. I have seen truly serious criminals, being near whom is incredibly difficult. I hope this can be forgotten,' he is quoted by 'Mediazona'*.
Vyacheslav Malakhov pleaded guilty, and the case was considered in a special procedure at his request.
Malakhov was detained on January 31, and on February 2, the Golovinsky Court of Moscow sent him to a pre-trial detention center. The reason for the criminal prosecution was two anti-war posts in a Telegram channel, published in September 2023. 'And that Wagnerite from the news doesn't even honor his mother, he actually killed her with an axe. So you have violated ALL the commandments with this war, oh, sorry, the SVO,' Malakhov wrote in one of them.
In August 2023, Malakhov was already fined under an administrative protocol for 'discrediting' the army due to anti-war posts on 'VKontakte'. At that time, he was also forced to sign consent for hospitalization in a psychiatric hospital, and after discharge, the poet was diagnosed with a rib fracture.
* Recognized as 'foreign agents' in Russia.
Photo: Mediazona