Russia sentences Israeli animator to 4 years over anti-war cartoon

A court in St. Petersburg on Monday sentenced Oleg Kuvaev, creator of the animated series “Masyanya,” to four years and one month in a general-regime penal colony. Kuvaev, a Russian-Israeli citizen who has lived in Israel since 2006, was convicted in absentia of publicly calling for activities against state security and failing to comply with obligations imposed under Russia’s “foreign agent” law. Earlier this month, prosecutors had sought a sentence of five years and 11 months. According to Russia’s TASS news agency, Kuvaev was convicted under Article 280.4 of the Russian Criminal Code, with the offense committed via the internet, as well as Article 330.1, which concerns violations of obligations imposed on those designated as foreign agents. Responding to the sentence, Kuvaev told ynet: “They sentenced me in absentia to six years in prison because of my animated films.