Moscow City Court upholds arrest of opposition activist Yashin in fakes case

MOSCOW. Aug 8 (Interfax) - The Moscow City Court has declined an appeal against the decision to take into custody Ilya Yashin, a municipal deputy of Moscow's Krasnoselsky District (recognized as a foreign agent in Russia), who is charged with dissemination of fakes on the activities of the Russian Armed Forces, the court press service told Interfax on Monday.

"The decision of Moscow's Basmanny District Court is upheld. The appeal is declined," the press service said.

The court hearing was held behind closed doors.

As reported earlier, Moscow's Basmanny District Court granted the investigation's motion for a restraining measure against Yashin in the form of remand in custody for two months until September 12, 2022.

The Russian Investigative Committee had opened a criminal case over Yashin's statement made on his YouTube channel on April 7 in connection with the events in Bucha, Ukraine.

The opposition activist was charged with deliberate dissemination of false information on the use of the Russian Armed Forces.

The crime is punishable by up to ten years in prison.

Yashin denies his guilt and says he is being prosecuted for political motives.

The Russian Justice Ministry included Yashin in the register of foreign agent individuals on July 22.