MOSCOW, August 6 Moscow's Basmanny Court sentenced journalist Dmitry Kolezev* in absentia to 7.5 years in prison for spreading fakes about the Russian army, the court reported.
«The court found Kolezev* guilty under Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and sentenced him to 7 years and 6 months in prison,» the court said. 
In early June, at the request of the investigation, the court arrested Kolezev* in absentia for two months from the moment of his extradition or detention in the Russian Federation.
Kolezev* is charged with publicly disseminating knowingly false information about the use of the Russian Armed Forces for reasons of political, ideological or other hatred. Under this article, he faced up to ten years in prison.
In 2021, Kolezev* became the editor-in-chief of the Moscow-based publication Republic, which is now included in the list of foreign agent media outlets. Previously, he was a leading journalist and head of the Ural online publications Ura.ru and Znak.com.
After the start of the special operation in Ukraine, Kolezev* announced that he had gone abroad.
* An individual performing the functions of a foreign agent in Russia