Oh sure they did. They're offense was to advocate for change of the current corrupt government. So unless you toe the line you wind up in prison. See you guys have lived under communism for so long, you don't really understand what a democracy or a republic really is. You still like to have a Tzar, you just don't call him that anymore. Oh and BTW, ready to unilaterally invade Ukraine? Russia, the way it is now, makes the world a worse place.