A Chilean-American pro-Putin filmmaker jailed in Ukraine for allegedly spreading Russian propaganda has died in prison.
Gonzalo Lira, a 55-year-old YouTuber and film director who was born in Burbank, California, and spent part of his childhood in the Los Angeles area, died in a Ukrainian prison on Friday, the State Department confirmed to Fox News Digital.
“We can confirm the death of US citizen Gonzalo Lira in Ukraine,” a State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “We offer our condolences to the family for their loss.”
The spokesman added that the department “stands ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance,” but would not comment further “out of respect for the family during this difficult time.”
Gonzalo Lira, a 55-year-old YouTuber and critic of Zelensky, has died in prison. Gonzalo Lira / X
Lira got the airplay following pro-Russian content justifying Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, according to a report from Newsweek, a criminal offense under Ukrainian law.
He was initially jailed in May 2023 but was released on bail. He was jailed again after posting a video hinting that he would leave the country, arrested again for allegedly breaching his bail conditions.
The last letter of the American journalist Gonzalo Lira to his sister. Telegram Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends a joint press conference with European Council President Charles Michel and Moldovan President Maia Sandu in Kyiv, Ukraine. ZUMAPRESS.com
Newsweek also reported that Lira made many controversial posts before being taken by Ukrainian authorities, including labeling Ukrainian President Volodymry Zelenskyy a “cokehead” and praising Putin’s “special military operation” as “one of the most brilliant invasions in military history.”
The Ukrainian government’s Center for Stategic Communications and Information Security said Lira was arrested for “justifying Russia’s aggression against Ukraine,” according to Newsweek, a violation of Article 463-2 of Ukraine’s criminal law.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
