The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced captured Ukrainians, who served in the 'Azov' regiment* at different times, to long terms in a high-security colony, reported a 'Mediazona'** correspondent from the courtroom.
A panel of judges chaired by Judge Vyacheslav Korsakov sentenced Yaroslav Zhdamarov, Alexander Merochenets, Nikita Timonin, Alexander Mukhin, Oleg Tyshkul, and Artur Gretsky to 22 years in a high-security colony; Alexander Irkha and Artem Grebeshkov to 20 years; Oleg Mizhgorodsky to 17 years; Oleg Zharkov to 13; Anatoly Gritsyk to 19, and Alexey Smykov to 23 years in a high-security colony.
Eleven defendants were sentenced in absentia as they have already returned to Ukraine as part of a prisoner exchange. Among them are David Kasatkin and Dmitry Labinsky, who were sentenced in absentia to 23 years in a high-security colony.
Nine women, who worked as army cooks at different times and were exchanged last September, were also sentenced in absentia: Elena Abramova, Alena Bondarchuk, Lilia Pavrianidis, Nina Bondarenko, Irina Mogitich, Vladislava Maiboroda, Marina Tekin were sentenced in absentia to 13 years in a colony, and Lilia Rudenko and Natalya Golfinar to 14 years in a colony.
The charges against the captured Ukrainians were based on the fact that they all served in the 'Azov' special unit at different times and expressed 'negative attitudes towards the Russian-speaking population' and held 'pro-Ukrainian radical views'.
In August 2022, the Russian Supreme Court recognized 'Azov' as a terrorist organization, and a similar court decision was made in the self-proclaimed DPR back in 2016. At the same time, the accused served in 'Azov' at different times, and some of them were captured as servicemen of other units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Some participated in the defense of Mariupol and the besieged Azovstal plant, while others had already left service at the time of the Russian invasion and were detained at home or during filtration. Among the defendants, besides the women-cooks, were a laborer, a former cynologist, and drivers.
Prisoner of war Alexander Mukhin served in the 'Azov' regiment from September 2017 to November 2018, he said he was taken from his home in Mariupol. 'I am a civilian, lived a normal civilian life. Lived, worked, and so on, I was not involved in any terrorism. <...> Then it happened that, being at home in the city of Mariupol, everything happened suddenly. War, some people enter the house, beat me, put a bag over my head, take me away — it was either March 20 or 21, those events. Then I officially found myself in SIZO-1 Donetsk, was brought there on April 8 or 7. In general, few are interested in where I was during this period — from March 20, 2022, to April 8. Well, I myself do not know where I was — essentially, the bag never came off my head.' He also noted that he signed a contract not with 'Azov', but with the National Guard, which is a regular army.
The prisoners were charged with articles on 'actions aimed at the violent seizure of power', 'organization or participation in the activities of a terrorist organization', and 'undergoing training for the purpose of carrying out terrorist activities'.
In court, the accused repeatedly stated about the falsification of their testimonies, interrogations without lawyers, humiliating treatment, denial of medical assistance, and torture.
All the accused intend to appeal the sentence.
* Recognized as a 'terrorist' organization in Russia.
** Recognized as a 'foreign agent' in Russia.
Photo: Alexandra Astakhova/Mediazona