Andrey Trofimov. Photo: social media

A Russian anti-war activist has had his sentence extended for “justifying terrorism” and “discrediting the army” in his closing statement in court nearly two years ago, independent outlet Mediazona has reported.

Andrey Trofimov was sentenced to 10 years in prison in October 2023 for supporting Ukraine in his social media posts and for trying to join the Freedom of Russia Legion, a Russian unit fighting alongside Ukrainian forces in Ukraine which has been outlawed in Russia.

A court in the western Russian city of Tver added three years to Trofimov’s sentence in a hearing on Monday, which Trofimov attended holding a handmade sign of a golden trident from the Ukrainian coat of arms, Mediazona wrote.

Trofimov was hit with additional charges for his speech in court in October 2023 in which he said that as a victim of Russian aggression, Ukraine had the right to attack Russia’s military targets, including the Crimean Bridge, and asked for a maximum sentence for himself.

“I despise you. I will not walk with you on the same land and live with you in the same state. Since I can’t go to Ukraine now, lock me up in prison forever,” Trofimov told the court, ending his statement with “Glory to Ukraine! Putin is a dick.”

Addressing the court on Monday, Trofimov said he was being tried for the second time for his words, and insisted that his actions had caused no harm to anyone. Explaining why he continued to speak out despite the risk of further charges, Trofimov said: “I want to keep my conscience in this difficult situation, the ability to distinguish lies from truth, and, most importantly, the ability to say out loud what I believe to be true.”