INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
A Russian prosecutor on Thursday requested a seven-year prison term for a Moscow city councillor accused of criticizing Russia's military
intervention in Ukraine.Alexei Gorinov, a 60-year-old lawyer by training, was arrested in late April for spreading "knowingly false
information" about the Russian army and is now on trial.Gorinov is the first elected member of the opposition to face jail for criticizing
Moscow' military campaign in Ukraine.The charges come under new legislation that allows prison time for discrediting the Russian military
and is part of Moscow's increasing efforts to snuff out the last vestiges of dissent.Speaking in Moscow's Meshchansky District Court, the
prosecutor accused Gorinov of undermining the "authority of the Armed Forces" and being guided by "political hatred," an AFP journalist
said.Gorinov spoke up against Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine during a work meeting in March that was recorded on video and is
available on YouTube.During his speech, he questioned plans for an art competition for children in his constituency while "every day
children are dying" in Ukraine.On Thursday, several dozen people came out to support Gorinov, including his wife and sister.Dmitry Fyodorov,
a 50-year-old programmer, said that the charges against Gorinov were "unlawful" and described him as a "kind man and a good lawyer."Russian
society is reeling from a historic crackdown on dissent which has intensified since President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine on Feb
prison sentences of up to 15 years for spreading false information aimed at discrediting its military forces.On Wednesday, parliament
introduced harsh prison terms for calls to act against national security and criminal liability for maintaining "confidential" cooperation
