In the Petrogradsky Court of St. Petersburg, Judge Dmitry Ovrakh sentenced 19-year-old Darya Kozyreva to two years and eight months of imprisonment on charges of 'discrediting' the army, reported a correspondent from 'Mediazona'**. Kozyreva was taken into custody in the courtroom.
During the proceedings, the prosecution requested six years in a general regime colony for her for 'discrediting' the army with a quote from Taras Shevchenko and an anti-war interview. Prosecutor Mikhail Russkikh noted that Kozyreva did not plead guilty, she has no children or family, and had previously been held administratively liable. The prosecution considered the fact that the 'crime' was committed 'during the mobilization period' as an aggravating circumstance.
In her final statement, Darya Kozyreva read another poem by Taras Shevchenko. 'If Taras Grigorievich accidentally found himself in our time, perhaps I am expected to say that he would be quietly shocked. No, he wouldn't even be surprised at all. He would see the picture as too familiar. Muscovy is at it again,' the girl stated.
The criminal case was initiated after Kozyreva, on the anniversary of the war, pasted a sheet with a quote from the poet's poem 'Testament' on the monument to Taras Shevchenko in St. Petersburg. Later, a new charge was added to the case due to the girl's interview with the publication 'Sever.Realii'. Kozyreva did not plead guilty. She spent a year in a pre-trial detention center, and in February she was released under restrictions on certain actions.
In December, due to procedural violations, the court returned the episode related to the interview for revision, but on April 10 it became clear that both episodes of the accusation remained in the case.
In 2022, a criminal case was initiated against the then 17-year-old Kozyreva for intentional damage to property — the girl wrote on an installation on Palace Square dedicated to St. Petersburg's assistance to Mariupol, the words: 'Murderers, you bombed it. Judas'.
* Recognized in Russia as a 'foreign agent' and 'undesirable' organization.
** Recognized in Russia as a 'foreign agent'.
Photo: Mediazona