The 2nd Western District Military Court sentenced 52-year-old former employee of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Southwest State University (SWSU) Dmitry Skopin* to three years in a general regime penal colony on the case of «justifying terrorism on the internet», reported TASS citing its correspondent in the court. The basis for the criminal prosecution was a comment in one of the telegram channels in August last year, in which Skopin, according to the investigation, «justified the invasion and actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine militants in the Sudzhansky district of the Kursk region». The scientist was detained on August 16, and the court imposed a restriction on certain actions during the investigation.
In February 2025, Skopin's name appeared in the Rosfinmonitoring registry of «terrorists and extremists». His criminal case reached the court at the beginning of August. Judge Yuri Massin delivered the verdict to the scientist in one session.
«At that time, I did not support the decision to conduct the special military operation, having an anti-war stance, and killing is very bad. <...> I am very ashamed of the messages I left. I admit that I posted them, but I condemn myself for the foolish act I committed», — TASS quotes Skopin's words in court.
* Included in the list of «terrorists and extremists».