Criticism of war in Ukraine can put Russian teen behind bars

A Russian teen has been placed under house arrest and could face up to seven years in prison amid the country's continuous crackdown on dissent after she reposted criticism of President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.

On January 4, the Primorsky District Court, which is in Russia's northwestern city of Arkhangelsk, ruled that Olesya Krivtsova, 19, must remain under house arrest until her trial, Newsweek reports, citing Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Krivtsova was arrested after she reportedly shared a post by activist Ilya Leshukov and published a story about the explosion of the Crimean bridge on Instagram.

Last week, Krivtsova was charged with "discrediting" the Russian army and justification of terrorism. Additionally, the court prohibited Krivtsova from using the internet and other communication means on December 28.

Russian authorities were on the lookout for the teen prior to her arrest. The representative for the state prosecution said that officers went to her place of residence in the village of Uemsky on Friday, but no one opened the door for them. She was placed on a wanted list afterwards.

Krivtsova was arrested and detained for interrogation on Tuesday after unknown people, believed to be her acquaintances, bought tickets abroad in her name, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

The teen was fined 30,000 rubles ($412) in May for discrediting the Russian military by putting up several anti-war pamphlets on Lenin Square in Arkhangelsk.

Krivtsova's arrest is one of the latest attempts by Moscow to silence Russian activists who oppose the war in Ukraine that began on February 24, 2022.

In August, Russian human rights activist Igor Kalyapin was attacked in a stabbing attempt by an individual who claimed to be a police officer, the Russian Human Rights Council said on Telegram.