Alexander Skobov who was jailed for 16 years in Russia over his anti-war views said in court: ‘Today I will be asked whether I plead guilty. Well, I am the one making the accusation here! I accuse the stinking corpse of a regime and the ruling Putin clique of preparing, unleashing, and waging an aggressive war, of committing war crimes in Ukraine, of political terror in Russia, and of the moral corruption of my people. I ask the regime’s henchmen present here; do you admit your guilt in being complicit in Putin’s crimes?’

Uphold O God all those persecuted or imprisoned for their beliefs Be to them a rock on which to stand A song of all things overcome