Anton Kuznetsov-Krasovsky also called for the overthrow of the constitutional order in Ukraine and the liquidation of its statehood.

The director of the Russian propaganda TV channel Russia Today, Anton Kuznetsov-Krasovsky, who called for the genocide of Ukrainians, was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison.

According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, the court decision found Kuznetsov-Krasovsky guilty of public calls for genocide and violent change or overthrow of the constitutional order. He was sentenced to the maximum possible punishment under the sanction of the article – five years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The report says that the prosecutors proved in court that the director of broadcasting of the RT TV channel, being a public figure who has influence on the audience of Russian TV channels, during January-March 2022 incited the overthrow of the constitutional system in force in Ukraine and the liquidation of its statehood. He also called for the physical destruction of a part of the Ukrainian people.

It is also reported that the convict is included in the EU sanctions list for spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda.

The Security Service of Ukraine reported that on the basis of the collected evidence and conducted examinations, the court found Kuznetsov-Krasovskyi guilty under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• Part 3 of Art. 109 (public calls for violent change or overthrow of the constitutional system or seizure of state power, made with the use of mass media);
• Part 2 of Art. 442 (public calls for genocide, as well as the production of materials with calls for genocide for the purpose of their dissemination or distribution of such materials).

“Now the criminal is hiding from justice abroad. However, SBU employees know about his location and are conducting comprehensive measures to bring the culprit to justice,” the report said.

Krasovsky’s statements about Ukrainians

As reported, on August 29, 2022, investigators submitted an indictment against Kuznetsov-Krasovsky to the court.

The SBU reported that the investigators had gathered an exhaustive evidence base to bring him to criminal responsibility: in particular, it was documented that Kuznetsov-Krasovsky repeatedly spoke negatively about Ukrainians as a nation and the existence of Ukraine as an independent and sovereign state.

In his publications posted on YouTube and Telegram channels, the propagandist called on the Russian authorities to physically destroy Ukrainians, spread anti-Ukrainian propaganda not only on the air of the TV channel, but also created “author’s” videos, and also convinced viewers of the feasibility of holding the so-called “special “military operation” on the territory of Ukraine.