The Central District Military Court in Yekaterinburg sentenced 58-year-old Tyumen resident Mikhail Antonovich to eight years in a strict-regime penal colony on charges of financing terrorism.
The verdict was handed down on September 17 but became public on September 23 after Mediazona reported on the case.
According to the outlet, the charges stemmed from 130 paid Telegram Stars reactions under posts in channels run by Alexander Nevzorov, Taras Berezovets, Michael Naki, and Alexander Shpak. The total cost of the Stars was 292 rubles and 99 kopecks.
Antonovich was convicted under Part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of the Russian Criminal Code. Eight years is the minimum prison term under that provision.
The Political Prisoners Support project of Memorial said the reactions had been left, among other places, under posts about news, VPN services, and safe use of paid reactions on Telegram.