The case of the conviction of Dr. Nadezhda Buyanova in Russia reveals a worrying repression of freedom of expression in the country. Accused of having criticized Russia’s intervention in Ukraine in front of a patient, the pediatrician was sentenced to 5 and a half years in prison for having spread false information about the Russian army. This verdict comes in a context of hardening of the Russian regime towards any form of dissent.
The arrest of Buyanova, following a denunciation by the mother of one of her patients, raises questions about the use of justice by the authorities to silence dissenting voices. The viral video showing the indignation of the complainant served as the basis for this conviction, orchestrated up to the top of the judicial system under the leadership of Alexander Bastrykin, head of the Russian Investigative Committee.
Buyanova’s lawyers argued that there was no tangible evidence of the incriminating conversation, casting doubt on the veracity of the allegations made against the pediatrician. The repressive context in Russia since the adoption of laws criminalizing any deviation from the official version of the conflict in Ukraine has led to the abuse of the judicial system to silence any form of criticism.
In emotionally defending her innocence, Buyanova highlighted the absurdity of the charge against her, stating that a doctor, and in particular a pediatrician, cannot wish harm on his patients. Her trial highlights the limits of freedom of expression in Russia and the devastating impact of repression on civil society.
Beyond Buyanova’s individual case, this case reveals the fragility of fundamental rights in Russia and the threat that the criminalization of dissent poses to democracy. By condemning a dissenting voice, the authorities are reinforcing a repressive system that stifles all forms of free expression and protest. It is essential to remain vigilant in the face of these autocratic excesses and to defend the right to freedom of expression, an essential pillar of any democratic society.