In Moscow, 68-year-old pediatrician Nadezhda Buyanova has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in a penal colony after being accused of making an anti-war comment during a consultation. The case stemmed from a denunciation by Anastasia Akinshina, a patient’s mother, who alleged that Buyanova called her late husband, a soldier killed in Ukraine, a "legitimate target" of Ukrainian forces. The incident, which reportedly lasted 18 minutes, has ended Buyanova's four-decade medical career and led to her imprisonment.
Buyanova denied the allegations, stating that she never made the comment. Her defense argued that the accusation was driven by prejudice due to her Ukrainian heritage. Despite the lack of corroborating adult witnesses, the prosecution relied on Akinshina’s testimony and statements by her seven-year-old son, obtained through an interview conducted by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). The court refused the defense's request to question the child further.
The case has sparked widespread criticism from human rights activists and medical professionals. Many see it as a reflection of a broader trend in Russia, where citizens are increasingly reporting others for dissenting views on the Ukraine war or criticizing the government. Rights groups like OVD-Info have documented a sharp rise in politically motivated cases based on such denunciations since the war began, likening it to the climate of mutual suspicion during the Soviet era.
The verdict has been condemned by supporters, including over 1,000 doctors who signed an open letter warning that such cases deter young people from entering medicine. However, supporters of the prosecution argue that strict measures are necessary to ensure patriotism during wartime. The Kremlin has not commented on the case, while President Vladimir Putin has previously called for rooting out “traitors” within society.
Buyanova’s supporters argue that the case is emblematic of the risks professionals face in Russia for expressing dissenting views. Advocates stress that even if the alleged comment had been made, it reflects established international law, which recognizes enemy combatants as legitimate wartime targets. In her final statement, Buyanova pleaded for leniency, citing her advanced age and health issues, but the court upheld the harsh sentence.
The trial has intensified fears of a resurgence of denunciation culture, where neighbors, colleagues, and even family members report perceived “disloyalty” to the authorities. For many, the case underscores the deepening divide in Russian society amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
