A Russian journalist has been sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison in Russia for mentioning Russia’s occupation of 20% of Georgia. The information is reported by Russian independent media.

Specifically, the Tagansky District Court in Moscow sentenced the journalist of “Dozhd,” Valeria Kichigina, in absentia to 10 years in prison for spreading so-called “fake news about the war.”

It is noted that this is the first known case in Russia where the charge is based not on criticism of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, but on the 2008 aggression against Georgia.

For context, Kichigina wrote on her Instagram story about the 2008 war against Georgia:

“Today marks the anniversary of the five-day war in Georgia. On the night of August 7–8, Russian military forces entered the country and bombed peaceful cities. For 15 years now, 20% of Georgia has been occupied by Russia.”

According to Kichigina, her post about the aggression against Georgia was merely a pretext, and she is actually being persecuted for her coverage of the so-called “Baymak case.”