Russia Sentences Ukrainian Activist to 14 Years, Echoes of Authoritarianism
The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Yana Suvorova, the administrator of the “Melitopol is Ukraine” Telegram channel, to 14 years in prison on October 23. Detained in August 2023, she was accused of “terrorism” and “espionage” by Russia for publishing pro-Ukrainian content and gathering information on Russian military personnel. Reports indicate that Suvorova is in a difficult psychological state, awaiting a potential prisoner exchange. This case is part of a larger crackdown on press freedom, as Russian authorities have targeted and detained multiple Ukrainian journalists in occupied territories since the full-scale invasion.