Woman Leaves Note Saying "You Gave Birth to a Monster and Murderer" at Putin's Parents' Grave

Guilty of Cemetery Desecration Due to Political Hatred... 2-Year Probation

A woman who left a note saying "You raised a monster and a murderer" at the grave of Russian President Vladimir Putin's parents has been sentenced to probation.

On the 11th (local time), according to the British daily The Guardian, a Russian court sentenced Irina Chibaneva (60), who lives in Saint Petersburg, to two years of probation for leaving a note at the grave of President Putin's parents on the eve of his birthday last October, ruling that she was guilty of "desecration of a grave motivated by political hatred."

In October last year, Irina Chibaneva (60), a Russian woman who left a note saying "You raised a monster and a murderer" at the grave of Russian President Vladimir Putin's parents, is awaiting trial at a court in Saint Petersburg on the 11th.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Chibaneva reportedly left a note at the grave that read, "Parents of a madman, take him to where you are. He has caused too much pain and trouble. The whole world prays for his death. Death to Putin. You raised a monster and a murderer."

However, Chibaneva's lawyer argued that she was not guilty because she did not physically damage the grave or attempt to publicize her actions widely.

The Guardian explained that since the outbreak of the Ukraine war in February last year, the Russian government has intensified crackdowns on anti-war actions. Previously, in October last year, a Russian court sentenced history teacher Nikita Tushikanov to 5 years and 6 months in prison for "justifying terrorism and insulting the Russian military" after he referred to an explosion on the Crimean Bridge (Kerch Strait Bridge), which connects the Crimean Peninsula and mainland Russia, as "Putin's birthday present" on social media.

Additionally, actor Artur Smolyaninov, who said, "If I have to fight, I will fight on Ukraine's side," and Oleksiy Arestovych, a former advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, have been added to the Russian government's list of "extremists and terrorists."

Russian President Vladimir Putin. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, recently President Putin used the term "war" for the first time since the outbreak of the Ukraine war. In a Victory Day speech held on the 9th at Moscow's Red Square, he said, "A real war has been waged against our homeland." He added, "Western elites are spreading hatred and Russophobia," and "Their goal is the collapse of our homeland. They want to destroy our country."

He also emphasized, "We have defeated international terrorism," and "We will protect the people of Donbas (the occupied eastern Ukraine region) and safeguard our security."

This is the first time President Putin has used the term "war" since Russia's invasion in February last year. Until now, Russia has referred to the invasion of Ukraine as a "special military operation."

With President Putin officially defining the Ukraine invasion as a "war" at a formal event, there are speculations that Russia may issue additional mobilization orders following the first reserve mobilization order since World War II, which was issued last September.

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