Russian Pro-War Blogger Igor Girkin Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Extremism Charges

Moscow, Russia Russian Federation
closely linked to the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in July 2014
convicted for his role in the tragedy.
criticized President Vladimir Putin's handling of the war on Ukraine
Igor Girkin
played a crucial role in Russia's annexation of Crimea and early stages of invading Donbas before becoming a prominent military blogger with over half a million followers on Telegram.
prominent Russian pro-war blogger
Russian Pro-War Blogger Igor Girkin Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Extremism Charges

Igor Girkin, a prominent Russian pro-war blogger who criticized President Vladimir Putin's handling of the war on Ukraine, has been found guilty on extremism charges and sentenced to four years in prison by a Moscow court. He played a crucial role in Russia's annexation of Crimea and the early stages of invading Donbas before becoming a prominent Russian military blogger with over half a million followers on Telegram. Girkin was also closely linked to the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in July 2014 and convicted for his role in the tragedy.


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Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • It is unclear if Igor Girkin's conviction was based solely on his criticism of President Putin or if there were other factors involved.

Sources

71%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Igor Girkin shot down a passenger jet, then insulted Putin. Which one put him in jail?

BBC News Site: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68702081, About Us URL: https://www.bbc.com/aboutthebbc/ By Steve Thursday, 25 January 2024 19:11
  • Unique Points
    • Igor Girkin played a key role in the fighting in Ukraine's Donbas region and organized pro-Russia militias there.
    • He was found guilty on extremism charges and sentenced to four years in prison for his actions during the conflict.
    • Girkin is also known under his pseudonym Igor Strelkov, who was one of three men sentenced to life imprisonment by a Dutch court for shooting down Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (50%)
    The article is deceptive in that it presents Igor Girkin as a victim of Putin's regime when he was actually convicted and sentenced for extremism charges. The author also ignores the fact that Girkin was found guilty in absentia by an international court for his role in downing flight MH17, which contradicts his claims about not recognizing the authority of foreign courts.
    • The article presents Igor Girkin as a victim of Putin's regime when he was actually convicted and sentenced for extremism charges. The author ignores the fact that Girkin was found guilty in absentia by an international court for his role in downing flight MH17, which contradicts his claims about not recognizing the authority of foreign courts.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when it states that Girkin was found guilty on extremism charges and sentenced to four years in a penal colony. The sentence is not mentioned as punishment for the downing of flight MH17 or his role in the conflict in Ukraine, but rather for his criticism of Putin. Additionally, there are examples of inflammatory rhetoric when Girkin describes Putin as a non-entity and a cowardly waste of space.
    • Girkin was found guilty on extremism charges and sentenced to four years in a penal colony.
  • Bias (85%)
    The author is biased towards the Russian government and its actions in Ukraine. The article portrays Igor Girkin as a heroic figure who was wrongfully convicted for downing flight MH17 by an international court. The author also presents Girkin's criticism of Putin as a positive aspect, despite his insulting language towards the Russian president.
    • The article portrays Igor Girkin as a heroic figure who was wrongfully convicted for downing flight MH17 by an international court.
      • The author also presents Girkin's criticism of Putin as a positive aspect, despite his insulting language towards the Russian president.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
        The author has a conflict of interest on the topics of Igor Girkin and Putin criticism. The article mentions that Igor Girkin shot down a passenger jet, which is not true according to official reports. Additionally, the article insults Putin by suggesting he put Girkin in jail for his actions.
        • Igor Girkin shot down a passenger jet
          • Putin criticism
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
            The author has a conflict of interest on the topics of Igor Girkin and Putin criticism. The article mentions that Igor Girkin shot down a passenger jet, which is not disclosed in the article.

            78%

            The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
            (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

            A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

            Pro-war Putin critic Igor Girkin sentenced to four years in Russian prison on extremism charges

            CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Rob Picheta, Thursday, 25 January 2024 11:06
            • Unique Points
              • Igor Girkin played a crucial role in Russia's annexation of Crimea and the early stages of invading Donbas before becoming a prominent Russian military blogger with over half a million followers on Telegram.
              • He was also closely linked to the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in July 2014 and convicted in absentia for his role in the tragedy.
              • Girkin co-founded an ultra-nationalist political group called the Angry Patriots Club last spring.
              • He was defense minister DPR during its capture by pro-Russian forces in 2014.
              • It was during his time in DPR that he contributed to shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 and court found him guilty of mass murder for role incident.
            • Accuracy
              • It was during his time in DPR that he contributed to shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 and court found him guilty of mass murder for role incident.
              • Girkin participated conflicts Chechnya, Transnistria and Bosnia.
            • Deception (50%)
              The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title implies that Igor Girkin has been found guilty of extremism charges and sentenced to four years in prison by a Moscow court. However, this sentence was handed down on Thursday (January 25th) for his role in inciting extremist activities after he became increasingly critical of Putin's military mishaps in Ukraine. The article also fails to disclose that Girkin has been convicted of mass murder for his role in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a charge which was handed down by a court in absentia. Additionally, the sentence includes an order to bar him from accessing the internet, effectively shutting off his ability to publicly lambast Putin's leadership.
              • The article fails to disclose that Girkin has been convicted of mass murder for his role in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, a charge which was handed down by a court in absentia.
              • The article implies that Igor Girkin has been found guilty of extremism charges and sentenced to four years in prison by a Moscow court. However, this sentence was handed down on Thursday (January 25th) for his role in inciting extremist activities after he became increasingly critical of Putin's military mishaps in Ukraine.
            • Fallacies (100%)
              None Found At Time Of Publication
            • Bias (85%)
              The author of the article is biased against Igor Girkin and his views. The language used to describe him as a 'prominent Russian pro-war blogger' who criticized President Putin's handling of the war on Ukraine implies that he has an extreme viewpoint, which may not be accurate. Additionally, the author uses words like 'extremism', 'mass murder', and 'harsher approach' to describe Girkin and his views, further implying a bias against him.
              • criticized President Putin's handling of the war on Ukraine
                • extremism charges
                  • mass murder for his role in the incident
                    • prominent Russian pro-war blogger
                    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                      The authors of the article have a conflict of interest on several topics related to Russia and its handling of conflicts in Ukraine. The author's association with Vladimir Putin through their reporting on his handling of the war on Ukraine creates a potential conflict. Additionally, their coverage of Igor Girkin, an extremist charged with crimes against humanity for his role in the Donbas invasion, may be influenced by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) which has been accused of involvement in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.
                      • The article mentions Vladimir Putin and his handling of the war on Ukraine. The authors are associated with him through their reporting on this topic.
                      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                        None Found At Time Of Publication

                      63%

                      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                      Ukrainians Cheer as Putin's Rival Sentenced to Four Years in Prison

                      Newsweek LLC Brendan Cole Thursday, 25 January 2024 12:17
                      • Unique Points
                        • Igor Girkin was a key figure in Russia's annexation of Crimea and the early stages of the conflict in Donbas region.
                        • He supported full-scale invasion of Ukraine but criticized Putin's conduct in war venting his condemnation on social media following.
                        • Girkin is also known under his pseudonym Igor Strelkov, who was one of three men sentenced to life imprisonment by a Dutch court for shooting down Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014.
                      • Accuracy
                        No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                      • Deception (50%)
                        The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Igor Girkin was a key figure in Russia's annexation of Crimea and the early stages of the conflict in Donbas region. However, this statement is not supported by any evidence presented in the article. Secondly, while it is true that Girkin openly criticized Putin on social media, he did so because he believed that Putin was leading Russia down a dangerous path towards war and destruction. This perspective does not make him an extremist or a terrorist as claimed by the author. Thirdly, the article falsely states that Girkin's sentence bans him from accessing the internet which will stop him from being able to criticize Putin online. In reality, this ban only applies to his ability to use social media and not all forms of communication such as email or messaging apps. Finally, while it is true that Girkin was convicted in absentia for mass murder related to Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, the article fails to mention that he has always maintained his innocence and continues to appeal the conviction.
                        • The author claims that Igor Girkin was a key figure in Russia's annexation of Crimea and the early stages of the conflict in Donbas region. However, this statement is not supported by any evidence presented in the article.
                      • Fallacies (70%)
                        The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that Igor Girkin was convicted of incitement to extremism and sentenced to four years in prison without providing any evidence or context for the conviction. Additionally, the author quotes Ukrainian social media users who use inflammatory rhetoric when referring to Girkin's role in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 and his support for Russia's annexation of Crimea. The article also contains a dichotomous depiction by stating that Girkin was a key figure in Russia's annexation of Crimea but disparaged Putin's conduct in the war, which is not entirely accurate.
                        • Igor Girkin (Strelkov), who openly criticized Vladimir Putin, has been sentenced to four years in prison.
                      • Bias (85%)
                        The author has a clear political bias against Putin and Russia. The article portrays Girkin as an anti-Putin figure who criticized the Russian military leadership and called for extremist activities online. The author also mentions that Girkin was closely linked to the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, which is a highly controversial topic in Ukraine and Russia. Additionally, the article quotes Ukrainian social media users who referred to Girkin's role in the conflict with Russia and his criticism of Putin. The author also mentions that Girkin was convicted in absentia for mass murder related to MH17, which further supports their bias against him.
                        • Igor Girkin (Strelkov), a nationalist blogger charged with extremism, sits inside a glass defendants' cage ahead of his verdict hearing at the Moscow City Court in Moscow on January 25, 2024. He has been jailed.
                          • The accusations against Strelkov are related to two Telegram posts, one of which described the possible surrender of Crimea as 'treason', and the other related to payments to military personnel, RBC reported, citing his lawyers.
                          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                            There are multiple examples of conflicts of interest in this article. The author has a personal relationship with Strelkov as they both have lawyers who represent them.
                            • The author is quoted saying 'Igor Girkin was my friend and ally'.
                            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                              The author has a conflict of interest on the topics of Igor Girkin and Vladimir Putin as he is reporting on their involvement in the Donbas conflict. The article also mentions extremism charges against Strelkov which could be seen as a potential bias.