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A court in Ulan-Ude, Russia, sentenced US-based activist and researcher Maria Vyushkova in absentia to six years in prison on charges of spreading knowingly false information about the Russian armed forces. Vyushkova told VOA's Russian service that persecution in absentia, and pressure on relatives who remained in Russia, are becoming more widespread. The case was reported by VOA Russian. The report gave no further details on the case's timeline or any response from Russian authorities.