MOSCOW: Nine people have been found guilty of making statements publicly supporting Russia's military operation in Ukraine, local media outlets in the Czech Republic have reported, according to Prosecutor General Igor Strij. Another 90 cases are still under observation.
According to Striz, who spoke to Pravo newspaper, one of those targeted received a nine-month prison sentence for making "hateful statements" about Ukrainians on social media. The other eight were given fines or sentences with probation.
According to a Czech TV station at the time, the jailed man attempted to convince the judge that his statements were directed only at "Ukrainian nationalists" and that his right to freedom of expression allowed him to use abusive language.
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According to Strize, 58 more people have been accused of aiding Russian "aggression" and 90 more have been investigated.
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Strijd announced that any public statement in favor of the operation or Russia's leaders would be considered a criminal act shortly after the start of Russia's military operation in February last year. According to him, the suspects would face charges under Czech law, which forbids aiding a crime or genocide.
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Apart from the Czech Republic, other EU countries have also suppressed free speech in the name of protecting Ukraine. Several German states as well as six other EU countries, including the Czech Republic, have banned the use of the "Z" symbol, which is used to identify Russian military vehicles in Ukraine. A 63-year-old man was fined $4,000 by a Hamburg court in October for having the symbol on his vehicle.
Additionally, several journalists have violated the law. According to German reporter Elena Lipp, who has claimed German authorities are investigating her work in Donetsk and she faces three years in prison for "supporting" Russia's "illegal war of aggression", Marat Kasem has been the editor-in-chief of Sputnik Latvia. Imprisoned in his home country since December.