Russian student imprisoned for renaming Wi-Fi router with pro-Ukraine message

A Russian university student named Oleg Tarasov has been sentenced to 10 days in jail by a Moscow court. He changed the name of his Wi-Fi router to "Slava Ukraine," which means "Glory to Ukraine" in English. This slogan is seen as a nationalistic salute that has been used during Russia's war in Ukraine, as reported by independent Russian Telegram news channel Ostorozhno Novosti.

The Nikulinsky District Court of Moscow found the student guilty of propaganda and publicly displaying Nazi symbols on Thursday. As a result, his router was confiscated by authorities, as reported by state-run RIA.

ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - 2024/02/17: Police block the way to the monument to victims of political repression to honor the memory of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny the day after news of his death in St. Petersburg. (Photo by Andrei Bok/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Police in St. Petersburg, Russia blocked the way to the monument dedicated to victims of political repression on February 17, 2024. This was done to pay tribute to Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny who passed away. The photo of this scene was taken by Andrei Bok and is credited to SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images.

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As a fifth term for Vladimir Putin looms, Russia is stepping up its war on its own people

Dissent has practically been banned in Russia ever since President Vladimir Putin initiated the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

According to the Russian human rights group OVD-Info, over 260 individuals are currently imprisoned in the country for their involvement in anti-war activities, with more than 20,000 detentions being documented.

In recent weeks, the climate of repression in Russia has become even more evident after the passing of Alexey Navalny, a critic of the Kremlin, at a penal colony in the Arctic Circle in February. Supporting Navalny, whose opposition movement has been deemed extremist by the authorities, can be risky.

Russian state media mostly overlooked his passing, but hundreds of individuals were said to have been taken into custody for attending impromptu memorials. This marked the largest surge of arrests at political gatherings in the country in two years.

Despite a strong police presence, numerous mourners came together for Navalny's funeral in Moscow recently. Some attendees were heard shouting "Putin is a killer" or "no to war." Despite the threat of arrest, at least 103 people were detained in 20 cities across Russia, according to OVD-Info.

Many people have been visiting his grave at the Borisovsky Cemetery in Moscow, bringing flowers as a tribute. Riot police were also there, checking and recording the visitors and asking them to walk through metal detectors.

In the upcoming week, a closely monitored election will take place. Unfortunately, the country's sole anti-war candidate has been disqualified from running, possibly allowing Putin to continue his leadership well into the 2030s.

Editor's P/S:

The sentencing of Oleg Tarasov for expressing solidarity with Ukraine through his Wi-Fi router name is a chilling reminder of the oppressive climate in Russia. The Kremlin's crackdown on dissent has reached absurd levels, where even the slightest hint of opposition can lead to imprisonment. Tarasov's case shows that the war in Ukraine is not only being fought on the battlefield but also within the very heart of Russian society.

The passing of Alexei Navalny, a fierce critic of Putin, has further exacerbated the climate of fear and repression. The mass arrests of mourners attending his funeral and the heavy police presence at his gravesite underscore the government's determination to silence any form of dissent. As Russia gears up for an election marred by the disqualification of the only anti-war candidate, it becomes increasingly clear that Putin's grip on power is tightening, and the freedoms of the Russian people are being curtailed with each passing day. citizens.