Russian court sentences Telegram channel author to 15 years in prison for treason

A Russian military court has sentenced Rafael Mamedov, a 23-year-old student and author of the Telegram channel "Free Lapland," to 15 years in prison for treason and involvement in a terrorist organization. The Northern Fleet court in Severomorsk issued the verdict on 1 June.

Russia's Northern Fleet military court in Severomorsk, located in Murmansk, found 23-year-old student and Telegram channel "Free Lapland" author Rafael Mamedov guilty of treason and involvement in a terrorist organization, sentencing him to 15 years in prison.

The verdict was announced by Russian human rights organization OVD-Info on 1 June. Mamedov is a young man who used his Telegram channel to publish political content, and his case has attracted widespread attention among Russian civil society representatives.

According to OVD-Info, Mamedov has attempted suicide three times during his detention, which points to his difficult situation in prison. This is one of the youngest political defendants to be sentenced to such a severe punishment for running a Telegram channel.

Mamedov's case reflects a broader trend in which Russian authorities have cracked down on independent online media activity and punished social media users with lengthy prison sentences, using legislation related to treason and terrorism.