 Russian police put Gessen on a wanted list in December, and Russian media reported the case was based on statements they made about atrocities committed by Russian troops in the Ukrainian town of Bucha in an interview with a popular Russian online blogger. The prosecutions were carried out under a Russian law adopted days after the invasion of Ukraine began that effectively criminalized any public expression about the war deviating from the Kremlin narrative. Russia maintains that its troops in Ukraine only strike military targets, not civilians.