The St. Petersburg City Court sentenced 69-year-old Magomedgadji Rabadonov to five years in a general regime penal colony under the article on "confidential cooperation" with a foreign state, reported the joint press service of the St. Petersburg courts. Additionally, he was given a one-year restriction of freedom after release and was prohibited from changing his place of residence without the knowledge of state authorities. The trial was held in a closed session.
According to the investigation, which was outlined in the release about Rabadonov's arrest, he "proactively contacted the GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and expressed his intentions to provide information to the Ukrainian side and take specific actions that could contribute to the military defeat of the Russian Federation". However, this became known to FSB officers, and thereafter all meetings and correspondence took place under their control.
Rabadonov was detained and sent to a pre-trial detention center in January last year, initially charged with "attempted confidential cooperation" with a foreign state, but later the charge was intensified.
As reported by the court's press service, the man did not plead guilty. According to his version, "FSB officers, having planned everything in advance, found someone who looked like him, with a similar voice, organized remote access to all his electronic devices, conducted a covert meeting, and framed Rabadonov". He insisted that a "gang of criminals from law enforcement agencies, the court, and individuals living in his communal apartment, including his ex-wife and children, acted against him to seize his two rooms".
According to "Mediazona"*, Magomedgadji Rabadonov grew up in Dagestan but moved to St. Petersburg after the army. In 2021, he listed the Military Academy of Logistics, related to the Ministry of Defense, as his place of work, and before that, the State Unitary Enterprise "St. Petersburg Metro". However, in recent years, according to his ex-wife, he was retired.
* Recognized as a "foreign agent" in Russia.