Vadim Cheldiyev, an opera singer from Russia’s North Caucasus, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The sentence was due to the singer calling on his home city to protest coronavirus lockdown measures in the early weeks of the pandemic. According to Russian media, in April 2020 the baritone posted a video calling on people to attend a planned protest against COVID-19 restrictions in Vladikavkaz, the capital of Russia’s republic of North Ossetia.

The baritone was detained shortly after. According to the report, 1,000 people gathered for the April 2020 protest in Vladikavkaz, despite the lockdown measures, to demand local authorities’ resignation and Cheldiyev’s release from custody.

Prosecutors determined Cheldiyev to be the rally’s organizer alongside local activists Ramis Chirkinov and Arsen Besolov, who were also tried and received an eight-year sentence.

Cheldiyev was found guilty of violating several articles of Russia’s Criminal Code, including incitement to “extremist” activity and participation in mass riots. The singer was also convicted of hitting a police officer.

The baritone is a former Mariinsky Theatre singer and will serve his 10-year sentence in a strict regime correctional colony