World · Europe · 14 hrs ago
Andrea Stauffacher sentenced to one year in prison in Zurich
A Zurich court sentenced Andrea Stauffacher to one year in prison on Wednesday.
The 76-year-old activist was tried over two unauthorised demonstrations that turned violent, one in Zurich in 2022 and one in Basel in 2023.
Prosecutors said she approved of and encouraged violence at the events.
The charges were breach of the peace and violence or threats against public officials.
Stauffacher is a leading figure in the Revolutionary Aufbau, a Zurich-based left-wing group.
She has a previous conviction linked to two arson and explosives attacks in Zurich in 2011, for which she received a 17-month prison sentence.
A Zurich district court sentenced Andrea Stauffacher to an unconditional one-year prison term on Wednesday.
The 76-year-old was convicted of breach of the peace and multiple counts of threatening or using violence against authorities and officials.
Stauffacher did not attend the hearing, but was among demonstrators outside the court.
The charges concerned two unauthorised demonstrations in Zurich in 2022 and Basel in 2023.
The court also ordered the creation of a DNA profile, and Stauffacher can appeal to the High Court.
- Who
- Andrea Stauffacher, a 76-year-old left-wing activist.
- What
- She was sentenced to an unconditional one-year prison term and convicted of breach of the peace and multiple counts of threatening or using violence against authorities and officials.
- When
- Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
- Where
- Zurich District Court, Switzerland; the charges concerned demonstrations in Zurich and Basel.
- Why
- The court found that she had taken part in violent demonstrations and said her previous convictions and penalties did not support a favourable prognosis.
Stauffacher and her supporters
Zurich District Court
Basis for prosecution
Stauffacher and her supporters
The court found her guilty of offences connected to violent demonstrations in Zurich and Basel.
Zurich District Court
Her lawyer said she would not submit to the power of the judiciary, and she did not attend the hearing.
Stauffacher did not attend an earlier scheduled court hearing.
The Zurich demonstration at the centre of one charge took place.
A demonstration in Basel formed the basis of the other charge.
The Zurich District Court held the hearing in her absence and sentenced her to one year in prison.
- Sentence
- One year of unconditional imprisonment
- Age
- 76
- Court
- Zurich District Court
- Charges
- Breach of the peace and multiple counts of threatening or using violence against authorities and officials
- Additional order
- Creation of a DNA profile
- Appeal
- The sentence can be appealed to the High Court
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What people are saying
Eine Freiheitsstrafe ist daher angemessen
Eine politische Überzeugung rechtfertigt niemals Gewalt
Sie will sich nicht der Macht der Justiz unterordnen