The court sentenced Alexander Nevzorov in absentia* to eight years in prison in the case of fakes

"To find Nevzorov* guilty of committing a crime under paragraph "d" of Part 2 of Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, and to impose a sentence of eight years of imprisonment with serving in a general regime colony. The verdict was pronounced in absentia," Judge Yevgeniya Nikolayeva announced the verdict, whose words were conveyed by a TASS correspondent from the courtroom.

The court also banned the journalist from administering Internet resources for four years after serving his sentence.

The representative of the defense has already announced his intention to appeal the conviction, citing the absence of corpus delicti and the law on the media.

"We will appeal the verdict, since there is no corpus delicti in the Nevzorov* case. Nevzorov* is a talented journalist, historian, carried out activities, according to the law on mass media, he did not go beyond", - said lawyer Nadezhda Fedoseyeva.

The day before, the state prosecution appealed to the court with a request to sentence Nevzorov* to nine years in prison in absentia, as well as to prohibit the administration of Internet resources for four years. At the same time, the meeting was held without the accused and his lawyer, and the interests of the journalist were defended by a lawyer by appointment.

According to the prosecution's version, from March 9 to May 30, Nevzorov*, while outside Russia, expressed disagreement with the ongoing special operation in Ukraine. "Acting on the motives of political hatred," he posted publications and videos on social networks, where he provided false information about the actions of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation "under the guise of reliable".

On March 22, the Investigative Committee announced the initiation of a criminal case against the journalist. On April 22, Nevzorov* was added to the register of foreign media agents, and in May the Basmanny Court of Moscow authorized his arrest in absentia. The journalist is listed in the database of fugitives from justice. At the end of April, he was put on the international wanted list. The crime imputed to him (paragraph "d" of Part 2 of Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) provides for a fine of up to 5 million rubles and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

* - entered by the Ministry of Justice in the register of foreign media.