Russian opposition politician Ilya Yashin was sentenced by a court on Friday to eight and a half years in prison on charges of spreading “false information” about Putin’s army, Reuters writes. The Russian dissident urged Russians to fight for their country.

Yashin was on trial for a video posted on YouTube in April in which he discussed evidence uncovered by Western journalists of Russian atrocities in Buch, outside Kiev, and cast doubt on Moscow’s official version that the reports were fabricated as a “provocation” against Russia.

After sending tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine on February 24, Russia adopted new legislation that provides for up to 15 years in prison for spreading false information about the military.

“Putin is responsible for this massacre”

In his closing speech in court earlier this week, Yashin addressed President Vladimir Putin directly, calling him “the person responsible for this carnage” and asking him to “stop this madness.”

“Looking at the consequences of this terrible war, you probably also realize what a serious mistake you made on February 24. Our army is not greeted with flowers. We are called torturers and occupiers. The words “death” and “destruction” are now strongly associated with your name,” said Yashin.

“You have brought a terrible misfortune to the Ukrainian people, which will probably never forgive us.”

Putin stifled the opposition

Since the beginning of the conflict, Russia has taken steps to suppress almost all forms of dissent, with most of its prominent opposition figures in jail or exile.

39-year-old Yashin also urged his supporters to remain cheerful.

“Please do not despair and do not forget that this is our country,” he said. “It is worth fighting for. Be brave, do not give in to evil and hold on.”