A 65-year-old man associated with the environmental movement 'Last Generation' has been sentenced to 1 year and 10 months in prison by the Berlin-Tiergarten District Court for participating in controversial climate protests across Germany. The court ruled against his conditional release.
The court spokesperson stated that the man was convicted for participating in various protests between 2022 and 2023, facing charges of forcible detention and resisting law enforcement.
The prosecution had sought a sentence of 2 years and 3 months, while the defense attorney requested acquittal.
'Last Generation' remarked that this is the longest prison sentence handed down in Germany for participating in sit-ins, adding that the defendant plans to appeal the verdict. The finalization of the conviction will occur after the reasoning for the verdict is disclosed, which could take weeks or months.
In July, a female protester involved in similar actions, such as blocking streets and vandalizing artworks, was sentenced to 1 year and 4 months in prison in Berlin.
'Last Generation' is a group of volunteers advocating for more robust climate protection measures. Unlike the global 'Fridays for Future' movement, Last Generation activists resort to disruptive actions like blocking roads and highways or vandalizing cultural artifacts to amplify their message. Their recent actions at multiple airports in Germany and Europe have led to numerous flight cancellations.