Court approves in absentia sentence for foreign agent Dmitry Gudkov

The court of appeal has approved the sentence in absentia of former State Duma deputy Dmitry Gudkov (recognized as a foreign agent in Russia). This was reported to "Izvestia" in the court on November 19.

In October, the former MP filed an appeal against his August verdict. The court ruled to leave the decision of the court of first instance unchanged and not to satisfy the appeal.

Thus, Gudkov was sentenced in absentia to eight years in a general regime penal colony for fakes about the Armed Forces (AF) of the Russian Federation (item "e" part 2 of article 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Also, the ex-deputy was deprived of the right to engage in activities related to the placement of information, administration of sites and channels using electronic or information and telecommunications networks, including the Internet, for a period of four years.

Earlier, on July 30, Izvestia correspondent reported from the hall of Moscow's Khoroshevsky District Court that Gudkov did not admit guilt in the case of spreading fakes about the Russian Supreme Soviet. According to his lawyer, his client believes that the charge is politically motivated.

Gudkov was included in the register of foreign agents by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on February 10, 2023. It was noted that he "called for the provision of arms to Ukraine, as well as participated as an expert and respondent in events on information platforms provided by foreign structures." On February 26 of the same year, the Russian Interior Ministry put Gudkov on a wanted list, and he is currently living outside Russia.