Sanctions Imposed on Russian Judge Over Activist's Detention

The United States sanctioned Russian judge Olesya Mendeleeva for the detention of activist Alexei Gorinov, jailed for opposing Russia's war in Ukraine. Gorinov, formerly a district councillor, was sentenced to seven years for spreading 'false information.' Additional charges led to three more years in a penal colony.

The U.S. Treasury Department has levied sanctions against Russian judge Olesya Mendeleeva, blaming her for the detention of Alexei Gorinov, a human rights activist. Gorinov, who opposed Russia's military actions in Ukraine, received a seven-year prison sentence under Russia's war censorship laws in 2022.

As the first individual imprisoned for such offenses, Gorinov was convicted of disseminating allegedly false information about the Russian military. During a 2022 council meeting, he highlighted the daily deaths of Ukrainian children, an act that judge Mendeleeva has used as grounds for his imprisonment.

Further charges of 'justifying terrorism' were added, extending Gorinov's sentence by three years. Although the Kremlin refrains from commenting on specific cases, human rights advocates see this as part of a strategy to stifle dissent. This latest action underscores the continuing East-West tensions over Ukraine.