A Russian court on Wednesday sentenced a journalist to seven years in prison for criticizing Ukraine’s offensive in social media posts.

Roman Ivanov, 51, was found guilty of spreading “disinformation” about Russia’s armed forces and punished under Moscow’s strict military censorship laws.

Moscow has used a legal ban on “smearing” the armed forces or publishing “disinformation” to quash public criticism of its sweeping military offensive in Ukraine.

“Peace and freedom,” Ivanov shouted as he left the courtroom after the verdict.

AFP reporters in court witnessed his supporters applauding and shouting: “We are with you. You are not alone.”

In 2022 social media posts on the Telegram and VKontake social media sites, Ivanov criticized Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine and its actions in the Ukrainian city of Bucha.

He was arrested last year and pleaded not guilty.

“Journalism no longer exists in Russia,” he said in his final statement to the court at a previous hearing.

He added, “We must ask ourselves why we sow the seeds of misery and misfortune around us and why our country has become an avalanche of disaster and misfortune.”

Ivanov worked for a local state-run TV channel but was fired in 2021 after reporting on alleged corruption, electoral fraud and ecological issues in Korolev, a town northeast of Moscow.

Speaking outside the court after Wednesday’s verdict, Ivanov’s mother said she believed the case against him had been ordered by local authorities in retaliation for his reporting.

“Everything before him was completely fabricated,” Alla Ivanova said through tears. “I’m going to keep fighting. I love my son and I’m proud of him. I’m proud of him fighting for people and helping people.”