Police officers walk past an art installation featuring Russian soldiers in St. Petersburg, 24 February 2023. Photo: EPA/ANATOLY MALTSEV

A 66-year-old man holding US, Russian, and Ukrainian citizenship has been sentenced to six years in prison in St. Petersburg for social media comments expressing support for Ukraine, independent news outlet Mediazona reported on Thursday.

Alexander Antonov was detained in March while attempting to cross the border from Russia’s western Pskov region into Estonia, after Federal Security Service (FSB) officers reportedly found the phrase “Glory to Ukraine” on his phone, prompting his arrest.

Antonov was charged with making public calls “for terrorist and extremist activity” after the prosecution revealed several other messages left by Antonov on two Telegram channels Ukraine 365 and Ukrainian Dialogue, including comments such as “Bravo, Azov!”, “Well done!” (in Ukrainian), and “I believe only in the Armed Forces of Ukraine!”.

Antonov pleaded guilty and asked the court for leniency, requesting a fine in place of imprisonment. He promised to return to Crimea, where he lived for many years of his life, and “explain to others what is allowed and what is not,” Mediazona reported.

“I don’t know what to say. I’m shocked. Dear prosecutor, I’m 66 years old. How many years do I have left? Don’t insist on a real term. This is my stupidity. … Why should I go to prison? I may have cancer. I’m not an enemy of Russia and I’m not a Russophobe. I did it unconsciously. I’ve been an honest person all my life,” Antonov said.

According to Radio Svoboda, RFE/RL’s Russian-language service, Antonov was born in the Perm region in Russia’s Urals. He previously studied to be a railroad worker in Dnipro, worked in the US for seven years, and married an American woman before deciding to return to Crimea.