The founder of the “Idite Lesom” project has been sentenced in absentia to six years over a case of “military fakes.”

Grigory Sverdlin, founder of the “Idite Lesom” (“Get Lost”) project, has been sentenced in absentia to six years in a general regime penal colony for allegedly spreading military “fakes” (clause “d” part 2 article 207.3 of the Criminal Code). This was reported by a correspondent for Mediazona from the Meshchansky District Court in Moscow.

He has also been banned from administering internet pages for three years.

The prosecutor had requested an eight-year prison sentence for Sverdlin.

The criminal case was initiated over a post about crimes committed by the Russian army in Bucha.

• Grigory Sverdlin launched the “Idite Lesom” (“Get Lost”) project after the announcement of mobilisation in September 2022. The project channel’s description says: “We help people avoid going to war.” “Idite Lesom” provides information on routes out of the country, tickets, and legal consultations for citizens subject to mobilisation.
• Before emigrating, Grigory Sverdlin headed the Night Shelter, a charitable foundation providing assistance to homeless people. He left the organisation in 2022.