A professional-Putin Chilean-American filmmaker who was imprisoned in Ukraine over allegations of spreading Russian propaganda has died in jail.
Gonzalo Lira, a 55-year-old YouTuber and movie director who was born in Burbank, California, and spent a part of his childhood within the Los Angeles space, died in a Ukrainian jail on Friday, the State Division confirmed to Fox Information Digital.
“We are able to affirm the loss of life of U.S. citizen Gonzalo Lira in Ukraine,” a State Division spokesperson informed Fox Information Digital. “We provide our sincerest condolences to the household on their loss.”
The spokesperson added that the division stands “prepared to supply all applicable consular help,” however would haven’t any additional remark “out of respect from the household throughout this tough time.”
Lira gained a following posting pro-Russian content material that justified Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, in keeping with a report from Newsweek, a legal offense below Ukrainian regulation.
He was initially jailed in Might 2023 however was launched on bail. He was jailed once more after posting a video hinting that he was going to depart the nation, being arrested once more for allegedly breaching the situations of his bail.
Newsweek additionally reported that Lira made many controversial posts earlier than being picked up by Ukrainian authorities, together with labeling Ukrainian President Volodymry Zelenskyy a “cokehead” and praising Putin’s “particular army operation” as “one of the crucial sensible invasions in army historical past.”
The Ukrainian authorities’s Heart for Stategic Communication and Data Safety mentioned Lira was arrested for “justifying Russian aggression towards Ukraine,” in keeping with Newsweek, a violation of Article 463-2 of Ukrainian legal regulation.