One of the most prominent jailed Russian opposition politicians, Ilya Yashin, on Tuesday (Feb 20) said that he vows to continue fighting for democracy in Russia after learning about the death of his friend and colleague Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. He also accused President Vladimir Putin of killing Navalny while acknowledging that his life was also in the Russian leader’s hands.

<h2>‘I will fight tyranny’</h2>

“As long as my heart beats in my chest, I will fight tyranny. As long as I live, I will fear no evil,” Yashin said in a post on social media, communicated through his lawyer. He added, “Of course, I understand the risks I face. I’m behind bars. My life is in Putin’s hands and it’s in danger.”

WATCH |&nbsp;Alexei Navalny death: Navalny’s body found with ‘bruises’ as West holds Putin responsible

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Yashin was an ally of Navalny and close to former Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov who was shot dead near the Kremlin while walking home across the Moscow bridge in 2015. The 55-year-old was a vocal critic of Putin’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.&nbsp;

“We shared a common cause and dedicated our lives to making Russia peaceful, free and happy. Now both my friends are dead,” said Yashin.&nbsp;

Navalny’s death has sparked outrage across the world and raised fears for his allies, some of whom are imprisoned. Yashin learned about his friend and ally’s death in his prison near Smolensk in western Russia where he is serving his eight-and-a-half years sentence.&nbsp;

“In Putin’s understanding, this is how power is asserted – through murder, cruelty and demonstrative revenge,” said Yashin blaming Navalny’s death on the Kremlin.&nbsp;

<h2>‘Murdered’</h2>

Yashin, a long-time ally of Navalny and the former head of an opposition party was sentenced in December 2022, months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;

The 40-year-old was sentenced for statements he made about war crimes allegedly committed by Russian forces in the Ukrainian city of Bucha.&nbsp;

Russia passed a law days after sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022 which criminalised “spreading false information” about the country’s armed forces.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/navalnys-mother-urges-putin-to-release-body-immediately-692003">Navalny's mother urges Putin to release body 'immediately'</a>

“I don’t doubt that he didn’t just die but was murdered, and that the order to kill was given by Putin. His security services had already made an attempt on his life back in 2020, and they now have seen it through,” Yashin wrote to the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail on Monday (Feb 19).

The jailed Russian activist was referring to the time when&nbsp;Navalny was allegedly poisoned by a&nbsp;nerve agent in 2020.&nbsp;

The Russian president has no “no moral or legal limitations” and each of their lives is in danger, he added. “I understand that. However, it doesn’t change anything for me. I find it to be beneath my dignity to be scared of a thug,” said Yashin.&nbsp;

<h2>Putin silent over Navalny’s death</h2>

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to say how the Russian president reacted to his main opponent’s death.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alexei-navalnys-wife-yulias-x-social-media-account-suspended-692033">Alexei Navalny's wife Yulia's X social media account suspended</a>

Navalny, Putin’s most vocal critic, died on Friday (Feb 16) at the age of 47 after collapsing at the Arctic penal colony where he was serving a long jail term.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

One of the most prominent jailed Russian opposition politicians, Ilya Yashin, on Tuesday (Feb 20) said that he vows to continue fighting for democracy in Russia after learning about the death of his friend and colleague Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

One of the most prominent jailed Russian opposition politicians, Ilya Yashin, on Tuesday (Feb 20) said that he vows to continue fighting for democracy in Russia after learning about the death of his friend and colleague Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. He also accused President Vladimir Putin of killing Navalny while acknowledging that his life was also in the Russian leader’s hands. ‘I will fight tyranny’ “As long as my heart beats in my chest, I will fight tyranny. As long as I live, I will fear no evil,” Yashin said in a post on social media, communicated through his lawyer. He added, “Of course, I understand the risks I face. I’m behind bars. My life is in Putin’s hands and it’s in danger.” WATCH | Alexei Navalny death: Navalny’s body found with ‘bruises’ as West holds Putin responsible Yashin was an ally of Navalny and close to former Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov who was shot dead near the Kremlin while walking home across the Moscow bridge in 2015. The 55-year-old was a vocal critic of Putin’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. “We shared a common cause and dedicated our lives to making Russia peaceful, free and happy. Now both my friends are dead,” said Yashin. Navalny’s death has sparked outrage across the world and raised fears for his allies, some of whom are imprisoned. Yashin learned about his friend and ally’s death in his prison near Smolensk in western Russia where he is serving his eight-and-a-half years sentence. “In Putin’s understanding, this is how power is asserted – through murder, cruelty and demonstrative revenge,” said Yashin blaming Navalny’s death on the Kremlin. ‘Murdered’ Yashin, a long-time ally of Navalny and the former head of an opposition party was sentenced in December 2022, months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The 40-year-old was sentenced for statements he made about war crimes allegedly committed by Russian forces in the Ukrainian city of Bucha. Russia passed a law days after sending troops into Ukraine in February 2022 which criminalised “spreading false information” about the country’s armed forces. Also Read | Navalny's mother urges Putin to release body 'immediately' “I don’t doubt that he didn’t just die but was murdered, and that the order to kill was given by Putin. His security services had already made an attempt on his life back in 2020, and they now have seen it through,” Yashin wrote to the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail on Monday (Feb 19). The jailed Russian activist was referring to the time when Navalny was allegedly poisoned by a nerve agent in 2020. The Russian president has no “no moral or legal limitations” and each of their lives is in danger, he added. “I understand that. However, it doesn’t change anything for me. I find it to be beneath my dignity to be scared of a thug,” said Yashin. Putin silent over Navalny’s death Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to say how the Russian president reacted to his main opponent’s death. Also Read | Alexei Navalny's wife Yulia's X social media account suspended Navalny, Putin’s most vocal critic, died on Friday (Feb 16) at the age of 47 after collapsing at the Arctic penal colony where he was serving a long jail term. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Will fight tyranny’: Jailed Russian activist Yashin vows to continue fighting after Alexei Navalny’s death

Russian opposition activist Ilya Yashin lost an appeal against an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence on a charge of spreading false information about the army on Wednesday. Later, a defiant Yashin predicted he would one day help build a "new and free Russia". Yashin is a longtime ally of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny. He was arrested in June 2022 for his statements made on his YouTube channel about war crimes allegedly committed by Russian forces in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha.

Moscow denies that it has committed war crimes or attacked civilians in Ukraine. It terms its invasion of Ukraine a "special military operation". Russia claims that the allegations are false and have been fabricated to damage its reputation.

The 39-year-old said that he had told the truth about the war in Ukraine in his video and that his conscience was clear.

He asked the Russian Defence Ministry's main spokesman to be summoned to the court. However, the judge swiftly rejected the request.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wion-explains-who-is-vladimir-kara-murza-the-kremlin-critic-jailed-for-25-years-583306">WION Explains | Who is Vladimir Kara-Murza, the Kremlin critic jailed for 25 years</a>

"The sentence handed down to me is staggering: eight-and-a-half years in prison for a 20-minute speech on the Internet. I have met plenty of murderers, rapists and burglars in prison who have received lesser sentences," Yashin told the court, according to a copy of his speech on his Telegram channel.

The decision on Yashin's appeal came two days after his fellow Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza was jailed for 25 years on charges of treason. Kara-Murza was also accused of "knowingly spreading false information". Kara-Murza had made speeches in the United States and Europe accusing Russia of bombing civilians in Ukraine.

Soon after it invaded Ukraine in February last year, Moscow introduced sweeping censorship laws which have since been used to silence dissenting voices.

Under the laws, discrediting the army is punishable with up to five years in prison. The offence of "spreading deliberately false information" carries a maximum sentence of up to 15 years. Yashin was convicted for the latter.

Yashin is still hopeful and predicted that Russia would one day be a very different place.

"The pendulum of history is inexorable and I know that, once I am eventually freed, I will be one of those who will have to clean up this whole bloody mess," he said.

"I will become one of those who will build a new, free and happy Russia on the ruins of Putinism."

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

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Russian opposition activist Ilya Yashin lost an appeal against an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence on a charge of spreading false information about the army on Wednesday.

Russian opposition activist Ilya Yashin lost an appeal against an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence on a charge of spreading false information about the army on Wednesday. Later, a defiant Yashin predicted he would one day help build a "new and free Russia". Yashin is a longtime ally of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny. He was arrested in June 2022 for his statements made on his YouTube channel about war crimes allegedly committed by Russian forces in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha. Moscow denies that it has committed war crimes or attacked civilians in Ukraine. It terms its invasion of Ukraine a "special military operation". Russia claims that the allegations are false and have been fabricated to damage its reputation. The 39-year-old said that he had told the truth about the war in Ukraine in his video and that his conscience was clear. He asked the Russian Defence Ministry's main spokesman to be summoned to the court. However, the judge swiftly rejected the request. Also Read | WION Explains | Who is Vladimir Kara-Murza, the Kremlin critic jailed for 25 years "The sentence handed down to me is staggering: eight-and-a-half years in prison for a 20-minute speech on the Internet. I have met plenty of murderers, rapists and burglars in prison who have received lesser sentences," Yashin told the court, according to a copy of his speech on his Telegram channel. The decision on Yashin's appeal came two days after his fellow Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza was jailed for 25 years on charges of treason. Kara-Murza was also accused of "knowingly spreading false information". Kara-Murza had made speeches in the United States and Europe accusing Russia of bombing civilians in Ukraine. Soon after it invaded Ukraine in February last year, Moscow introduced sweeping censorship laws which have since been used to silence dissenting voices. Under the laws, discrediting the army is punishable with up to five years in prison. The offence of "spreading deliberately false information" carries a maximum sentence of up to 15 years. Yashin was convicted for the latter. Yashin is still hopeful and predicted that Russia would one day be a very different place. "The pendulum of history is inexorable and I know that, once I am eventually freed, I will be one of those who will have to clean up this whole bloody mess," he said. "I will become one of those who will build a new, free and happy Russia on the ruins of Putinism." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

I will help build a new, free and happy Russia, says Kremlin critic Ilya Yashin after losing appeal

Police in Moscow detained more than 25 protestors at a rally to demonstrate against a possible ban on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-police-detain-at-least-94-including-opposition-leader-alexei-navalny-at-moscow-journalist-protest-226536">opposition candidates</a> running in elections to the Russian capital's parliament.

Opposition leaders cried foul after Moscow's election commission said most of their sponsored candidates failed to secure the required number of signatures to participate in the election.

The commission has yet to officially announce the list of legitimate candidates for the Sept. 8 vote to the 45-seat parliament.

Ilya Yashin, a critic of President Vladimir Putin, and several other activists had called for a meeting with the voters on Sunday, an event, which transformed into a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-opposition-leader-navalny-jailed-1500-arrested-after-wave-of-protests-16759">march to the Moscow city</a> mayor office and then to the headquarters of the election commission.

Yashin said earlier on Sunday the election commission's allegation that many of the signatures supporting him were rigged was an "absolute fraud".

A police spokesman said more than 25 people, including some organisers of the protest, were detained in the centre of Moscow. "They have not responded to the police's command to stop their actions. They are being bussed to police stations for further inquiries," a spokesman said.

The participants shouted anti-government and anti-Putin slogans, urging the authorities to register their candidates.

There is a history of anti-Kremlin activists being denied access to run for the parliament seats or presidential office.

Alexei Navalny, a prominent opposition leader, was barred from running in the 2018 presidential election after officials ruled he was ineligible to take part due to a suspended prison sentence.

The Moscow city election commission was not available for comment on Sunday.

Police in Moscow detained more than 25 protestors at a rally to demonstrate against a possible ban on opposition candidates running in elections to the Russian capital's parliament.

Police in Moscow detained more than 25 protestors at a rally to demonstrate against a possible ban on opposition candidates running in elections to the Russian capital's parliament. Opposition leaders cried foul after Moscow's election commission said most of their sponsored candidates failed to secure the required number of signatures to participate in the election. The commission has yet to officially announce the list of legitimate candidates for the Sept. 8 vote to the 45-seat parliament. Ilya Yashin, a critic of President Vladimir Putin, and several other activists had called for a meeting with the voters on Sunday, an event, which transformed into a march to the Moscow city mayor office and then to the headquarters of the election commission. Yashin said earlier on Sunday the election commission's allegation that many of the signatures supporting him were rigged was an "absolute fraud". A police spokesman said more than 25 people, including some organisers of the protest, were detained in the centre of Moscow. "They have not responded to the police's command to stop their actions. They are being bussed to police stations for further inquiries," a spokesman said. The participants shouted anti-government and anti-Putin slogans, urging the authorities to register their candidates. There is a history of anti-Kremlin activists being denied access to run for the parliament seats or presidential office. Alexei Navalny, a prominent opposition leader, was barred from running in the 2018 presidential election after officials ruled he was ineligible to take part due to a suspended prison sentence. The Moscow city election commission was not available for comment on Sunday.

Dozens detained in Moscow as opposition demands to be included in vote

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‘Will fight tyranny’: Jailed Russian activist Yashin vows to continue fighting after Alexei Navalny’s death

I will help build a new, free and happy Russia, says Kremlin critic Ilya Yashin after losing appeal

Dozens detained in Moscow as opposition demands to be included in vote