Lyudmila Vasilyeva, a brave voice against the war in Ukraine, faced legal action after trying to promote peace amidst rising dissent in Russia.
Elderly Leningrad Survivor Faces Penalty for Pro-War Protest Against Ukraine Invasion
Elderly Leningrad Survivor Faces Penalty for Pro-War Protest Against Ukraine Invasion
An 84-year-old Russian survivor of World War Two has received a fine for expressing her anti-war sentiments.
Russian activist Lyudmila Vasilyeva, an 84-year-old survivor of the Leningrad Siege during World War Two, was fined 10,000 rubles (approximately $126) for protesting against Russia’s military involvement in Ukraine. At her sentencing on Friday in St Petersburg, she faced charges of “discrediting” the Russian army for holding a sign that read: “People, let's stop the war. We are responsible for peace on the planet Earth. With love, Lyudmila Vasilyeva, child of the Leningrad blockade.”
The Russian government has tightened its grip on dissent since beginning its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In an interview with AFP before her court appearance, Vasilyeva lamented the situation in her homeland, expressing feelings of “bitterness” and “hurt.” She shared her belief in standing with the vulnerable, a conviction that has characterized her life since childhood.
Following her hearing, a crowd of supportive individuals welcomed her outside the court, where she received flowers and applause. Vasilyeva, who endured the harrowing Leningrad blockade, remembered her mother’s words: "'We will get through everything, as long as there is no war.'" She has been an outspoken critic of the ongoing war, having faced detention multiple times and unsuccessfully running for governor of St Petersburg last year after failing to obtain necessary nomination signatures.
The stringent Russian laws prohibiting the “discrediting” of the military have led to a crackdown on anti-war expressions, which the Kremlin increasingly interprets as support for Ukraine. This broad legislation encompasses anything from simple anti-war posters to nuanced messages against the conflict. As the war with Ukraine continues unabated, military experts estimate significant Russian casualties, with a bleak outlook leaving many questioning the implications of such dissenting voices within the country.
