Actress Yana Troyanova has been sentenced in absentia to eight years in prison.

She was also fined 250,000 rubles (about US$2,800) and banned from publishing posts for four years, reports Mediazona. The court in Moscow examined the case in a single day.

The prosecution was prompted by Troianova’s interview with Novaya Gazeta Europe, in which she criticised the state of Russian society and the invasion of Ukraine. Among other things, she said: Of course, we deserve it today when people shout in our faces: “Russians must be killed, even children.” Because of this and other statements, the actor faced criticism from pro-government media.

Soon, the Investigative Committee opened a criminal case. Initially, Troianova was accused only of inciting hatred (part “a,” section 2, article 282 of the Criminal Code) towards Russians. Later, accusations were added of justifying terrorism (section 2, article 205.2 of the Criminal Code; the connection is unclear) and evading “foreign agent” obligations by failing to file reports to the Ministry of Justice (section 2, article 330.1 of the Criminal Code).

Through her lawyer, the actor communicated that she does not admit guilt and in the interview only expressed a personal opinion and did not call for violence.

Troianova left Russia in 2022 after the war in Ukraine began and openly criticised the Russian authorities. After this, she was added to the list of “foreign agents.”

For the OVD-Info YouTube channel “What Now,” the actor spoke about how they met the Navalny family, who they consider the most important women for Russia, and what artists can do to resist the regime despite omnipresent censorship.