Russian Pediatrician Sentenced to 5 Years in Labor Camp for Comments on War in Ukraine

moscow - Nadezhda Buyanova, a 68-year-old Russian pediatrician, has been sentenced to 5.5 years in a labor camp for allegedly making remarks against Russia's invasion of Ukraine to a 7-year-old patient.

Nadezhda Buyanova, a 68-year-old Russian pediatrician, has been sentenced to 5.5 years in a labor camp for allegedly making remarks against Russia's invasion of Ukraine to a 7-year-old patient.

The father of the boy was a Russian soldier who died in the war against Ukraine. The pediatrician was arrested after the boy's mother filed a complaint, stating that the doctor had made negative comments about her son's father.

Since the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has enforced a law prohibiting the dissemination of false information about the military. Any criticism of the war is severely punished. Buyanova was arrested in February and found guilty. Initially, she was placed under house arrest, but a new judge decided to incarcerate her immediately.

The seven-year-old boy reportedly testified against the doctor. According to the AFP news agency, there is no audio or video recording of the conversations. Nevertheless, the doctor is being prosecuted. Buyanova vehemently denies making such comments. In her closing statement, she said, 'A doctor, especially a pediatrician, is incapable of wishing harm to a child and his mother. Only a monster is capable of this.'

The accused pediatrician was supported in court by colleagues wearing T-shirts with her face on them. 'Shame on you!' shouted the medical professionals at the judge when the sentence was pronounced. A human rights organization suspects that Buyanova was arrested and prosecuted due to her Ukrainian roots.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there have been frequent reports of Russians reporting neighbors, colleagues, and acquaintances to the police for alleged anti-war statements. Charges have led to arrests, prosecutions, and in some cases, long prison terms. Recently, 46-year-old hairdresser Anna Alexandrova was also tried for publicly disseminating disinformation.