Ukraine Sentences Spain-Based Anatoliy Shariy to 15 Years for Treason

Anatoly Shariy, a Spain-based Ukrainian journalist and vocal critic of President Zelensky, was sentenced in absentia by the Vinnytsia City Court to 15 years in prison on treason charges, including the confiscation of his YouTube, Telegram channels, and domain name. The Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) accused Shariy of collaborating with Russian forces and the FSB to produce and distribute staged videos of Ukrainian prisoners of war, advising on interrogation techniques and editing out footage that could harm Russia's image, such as signs of torture. Shariy's communication with the occupiers reportedly occurred via Anton Shevtsov, the former head of the Vinnytsia regional police, who is also charged with treason and is hiding in Sevastopol. Shariy has denied the charges and described the trial as a politically motivated vendetta, claiming his defense was ignored. The case exemplifies the Zelensky administration's ongoing efforts to silence dissent by labeling critics as pro-Russian and imposing sanctions on them. Both Shariy and Shevtsov remain fugitives, and Ukrainian authorities continue to pursue measures to hold them accountable for crimes against the state.