Russian Developer Sentenced to 15 Years for Donating to Ukrainian Defense, Criticizing Putin

A Russian software developer, Sergei Irin, was sentenced to 15 years in a maximum-security prison on Tuesday. The 45-year-old, formerly employed by the tech company Yandex, was convicted for donating approximately $500 to a Ukrainian defense fund.

During the sentencing, Irin reportedly refused to stand but held up a sign criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin. Footage shows Irin being arrested on suspicion of treason. The 15-year sentence was handed down for his actions, though it's unclear if the sign he displayed influenced the severity of the punishment.

Irin was apprehended by masked police officers and questioned in a van. He admitted to donating to the Come Back Alive charity, which supports Ukraine's defense forces, shortly after the invasion began. He also expressed negative feelings towards the Putin regime and acknowledged participating in opposition rallies.

Following his arrest, Irin was interrogated with a stun gun and transported to Moscow's Lefortovo pretrial detention center. In addition to the prison sentence, the court also imposed a fine of approximately $62,000. The specific maximum-security prison where he will serve his sentence remains unknown.