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MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian activist has been sentenced to three years in prison under a new law that tightens punishment for taking part in unauthorized protests. The verdict was strongly condemned by Amnesty International.
A Moscow court on Monday delivered the sentence to Ildar Dadin for his repeated involvement in unsanctioned protests. Dadin was the first person to be sent to prison under the 2014 law that criminalizes anyone found to have violated restrictive public assembly rules more than twice within 180 days.
Amnesty condemned the jailing of Dadin as a "shocking and cynical attack on freedom of expression." John Dalhuisen, the group's Europe and Central Asia Director, said that now "it is more dangerous to be a peaceful activist in Russia than at any time in recent years."
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This story has been corrected to change spelling of activist's first name to Ildar.
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