SOFIA: A Russian court has sentenced a Bulgarian-Russian dual national to three years in prison on charges of “justifying terrorism,” Bulgaria’s foreign ministry told AFP on Thursday.
The ministry has said the case shows Russia’s “systematic” actions against dissent.
Russia has detained, fined or jailed large numbers of people, including Westerners, on charges of alleged treason, terrorism, sabotage and spying, in what rights groups say is a crackdown on dissent.
Since the start of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, such trials have multiplied and have generally been accompanied by heavy sentences.
A Russian court sentenced the Bulgarian woman, who lives in Russia, on September 9 after finding her guilty of “justifying terrorism” in online posts, a ministry spokesperson said.
The accused had described Crimea as being “illegally occupied” and had expressed support for the Russian Volunteer Corps — a unit of Russian nationals fighting for Ukraine classed as a “terrorist” organization by Moscow — according to a written response this week by the ministry to parliament.
Bulgaria became aware of the case after the defendant’s sister notified the Bulgarian Embassy in Moscow in the spring.
The verdict is not final and can still be appealed.
According to the ministry, the case illustrates the Russian authorities’ “systematic and targeted actions” that are aimed at stifling freedom of expression and controlling information.
The actions result in “disproportionate” sanctions against opinions contrary to Moscow’s official line, “particularly in the context of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine,” it added.
A UN special rapporteur said in September that Russia systematically restricts freedom of expression and other rights as it seeks “to crush civic space... eliminate political opposition, suppress culture (and) distort historical truth.”
![]()
Russia sentences Bulgarian to jail after critical online posts
Short Url
https://arab.news/ckcsd
Russia sentences Bulgarian to jail after critical online posts
- The ministry has said the case shows Russia’s “systematic” actions against dissent
- The verdict is not final and can still be appealed
Cambodia says Thailand still bombing hours after Trump truce call
BANTEAY MEANCHEY, Cambodia: Cambodia’s defense ministry said Saturday that Thailand continued dropping bombs on its territory hours after US President Donald Trump said the neighbors had agreed to stop fighting.
The latest clashes between the Southeast Asian neighbors, which stems from a long-running dispute over the colonial-era demarcation of their 800-kilometer (500-mile) frontier, have displaced around half a million on both sides.
Each side had blamed the other for reigniting the conflict.
“On December 13, 2025, the Thai military used two F-16 fighter jets to drop seven bombs” on a number of targets, the Cambodian defense ministry said in an X post.
“Thai military aircraft have not stopped bombing yet,” it said.
It came after US President Donald Trump said Friday that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to halt fighting along their disputed border, which has killed at least 20 people this week.
“I had a very good conversation this morning with the Prime Minister of Thailand, Anutin Charnvirakul, and the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Manet, concerning the very unfortunate reawakening of their long-running War,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
“They have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me, and them, with the help of the Great Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim,” he said, referring to a deal made in July.
“Both Countries are ready for PEACE and continued Trade with the United States of America,” Trump noted, thanking Anwar for his assistance.
Anutin had said earlier, after his call with Trump: “It needs to be announced to the world that Cambodia is going to comply with the ceasefire.”
“The one who violated the agreement needs to fix (the situation) — not the one that got violated,” Anutin said, adding that the call with Trump “went well.”
The United States, China and Malaysia, as chair of the regional bloc ASEAN, brokered a ceasefire in July after an initial five-day spate of violence.
‘Peaceful means’
In October, Trump backed a follow-on joint declaration between Thailand and Cambodia, touting new trade deals after they agreed to prolong their truce.
But Thailand suspended the agreement the following month after Thai soldiers were wounded by land mines at the border.
“Cambodia has always been adhering to peaceful means for dispute resolutions,” Hun Manet said in a Facebook post Saturday after his call with Trump.
He added that he had suggested the US and Malaysia could use their information gathering capabilities “to verify which side opened fire first” on December 7.
Anutin said there were “no signs” Trump would connect further trade talks with the border conflict, but that he had guaranteed Thailand would get “better benefits than other countries.”
Anutin dissolved Thailand’s parliament on Friday after three months in office, paving the way for general elections early next year.
The latest clashes between the Southeast Asian neighbors, which stems from a long-running dispute over the colonial-era demarcation of their 800-kilometer (500-mile) frontier, have displaced around half a million on both sides.
Each side had blamed the other for reigniting the conflict.
“On December 13, 2025, the Thai military used two F-16 fighter jets to drop seven bombs” on a number of targets, the Cambodian defense ministry said in an X post.
“Thai military aircraft have not stopped bombing yet,” it said.
It came after US President Donald Trump said Friday that Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to halt fighting along their disputed border, which has killed at least 20 people this week.
“I had a very good conversation this morning with the Prime Minister of Thailand, Anutin Charnvirakul, and the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Manet, concerning the very unfortunate reawakening of their long-running War,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
“They have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me, and them, with the help of the Great Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim,” he said, referring to a deal made in July.
“Both Countries are ready for PEACE and continued Trade with the United States of America,” Trump noted, thanking Anwar for his assistance.
Anutin had said earlier, after his call with Trump: “It needs to be announced to the world that Cambodia is going to comply with the ceasefire.”
“The one who violated the agreement needs to fix (the situation) — not the one that got violated,” Anutin said, adding that the call with Trump “went well.”
The United States, China and Malaysia, as chair of the regional bloc ASEAN, brokered a ceasefire in July after an initial five-day spate of violence.
‘Peaceful means’
In October, Trump backed a follow-on joint declaration between Thailand and Cambodia, touting new trade deals after they agreed to prolong their truce.
But Thailand suspended the agreement the following month after Thai soldiers were wounded by land mines at the border.
“Cambodia has always been adhering to peaceful means for dispute resolutions,” Hun Manet said in a Facebook post Saturday after his call with Trump.
He added that he had suggested the US and Malaysia could use their information gathering capabilities “to verify which side opened fire first” on December 7.
Anutin said there were “no signs” Trump would connect further trade talks with the border conflict, but that he had guaranteed Thailand would get “better benefits than other countries.”
Anutin dissolved Thailand’s parliament on Friday after three months in office, paving the way for general elections early next year.
Latest updates
© 2025 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.