OSCE Media Freedom Representative expresses concern about disproportionate sentence against a Russian blogger

VIENNA, 5 October 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed concern about the disproportion of punishment of blogger, Vladislav Sinitsa, following yesterday’s decision of the Moscow City Court to uphold his imprisonment in appeal.

Earlier in September 2019, after a single hearing, the Presnensky District Court of Moscow sentenced Sinitsa to five years in prison after finding him guilty, under Russia’s anti-extremism legislation, of inciting hatred and threatening violence against a “social group” (law enforcement personnel), in a tweet published in the wake of the police crackdown during recent election related protests in Moscow. According to the prosecution, the tweet contained calls for reprisals against the children of law enforcement officers. The blogger denied the accusation.

“I am concerned about the disproportion of the sentence against Vladislav Sinitsa,” Désir said. “Even in cases where restriction to freedom of expression can apply, in accordance with international standards, the principle of proportionality must be respected and taken in consideration. The five years prison sentence for a tweet, although reprehensible, is a very harsh and disproportionate punishment. I call on the authorities to carefully review the sentence against the blogger.”