Anger and frustration is growing in Russia over government restrictions on the internet that have disrupted daily life, hurt businesses and brought condemnation from both Kremlin critics and supporters alike.

Yulia Galyamina, one of Russian opposition leaders, stands at a court prior to a session in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Denis Kaminev)MOSCOW – A Moscow judge on Wednesday convicted a local opposition politician of multiple protest violations and imposed a two-year suspended sentence in a case seen by many as politically motivated. But on Wednesday she walked free, cheered by a large crowd of supporters who gathered in front of the courthouse. An online petition demanding that authorities drop the charges against the politician has collected over 150,000 signatures. Galyamina is one of several opposition activists prosecuted under a law allowing to press criminal charges and imprison anyone who was repeatedly caught taking part in unauthorized protests.