"Zelensky Is Handsome" Russian Woman in Her 70s Fined for 'Military Insult' Crime

Moscow Court Sentences 650,000 Won Fine

A Russian woman in her 70s was punished for insulting the military after saying that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is "handsome and funny."

On the 19th (local time), The Times of the UK reported that Olga Sleginara (70) was detained in Nalchik, southern Russia, after making such remarks to a staff member in the dining hall of the nursing home where she was staying.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy Photo by AP·Yonhap News

She described President Zelensky as "a handsome young man with a sense of humor," adding, "Everyone laughed at his jokes." Zelensky was a comedian before being elected president in 2019 and even appeared on a New Year's special show on Russian state television in 2013.

Three customers who visited the dining hall reported Sleginara to the authorities, and a Moscow court fined her 40,000 rubles (approximately 650,000 KRW).

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year, it has enacted and enforced laws punishing those deemed to undermine trust in the Russian military or spread false information related to the military.

The United Nations claims that Russia uses such laws, which can be applied arbitrarily, to intimidate citizens, justify the war, and suppress criticism of the regime.

Last month, a passenger in the Moscow subway was detained and held for 14 days by police for viewing anti-war photos on a smartphone.

The Times criticized Russia for unprecedented iron-fisted rule since the era of Joseph Stalin, the Soviet Communist Party Secretary, noting that over 20,000 people have been arrested for protesting against the Ukraine war in Russia.

Russia is also expanding the application of treason and espionage charges against anti-war activists and increasing punishments. Recently, a reporter for the American daily The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) was arrested on espionage charges and is currently on trial.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.