Russia jails members of 'non-existent' terror group Set

2020-02-10 16:18:35

Seven Russian anarchists and anti-fascist activists have been handed lengthy jail terms on terror charges. A court in the city of Penza sentenced the men - said to be part of a group known as Set, meaning Network - to between six and 18 years in penal colonies. Russian authorities say they were plotting to overthrow the government. But rights groups and lawyers say the charges were fabricated, and the men were tortured into confessing. Prominent opposition figure Alexei Navalny described the sentences as "horrific" in a tweet, and called the Set group a "fictitious terrorist organisation". A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly said he was aware of the case and had ordered authorities "to make sure everything is in line with the law", but would not intervene.