Russian court imposed long prison terms against Mariupol fighter

Russian court imposed long prison terms against Mariupol fighter

A Russian military court has several members of the Ukrainian Azow Regiment, which defense the Important city of Mariupol led in the early months of the war.

judgment and indictment points

On Wednesday, the accused were convicted of various offenses, including violent seizures of power and participation in a terrorist organization. The prison terms are between 13 and 23, according to the General Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation.

allegations against the Azow regiment

Russia tries to present the Azow regiment as a group of Nazis and nationalists, which denies the organization. Last year The USA A ban on the fighter on.

symbol of Ukrainian resistance

The city of Mariupol has developed into a symbol of Ukrainian resistance. Ukrainian soldiers, including members of the azov-unit , and residents were 2022 weeks in a bunker under the huge Azovstal steel mill and refused to surrender to Russian forces.

procedure and arrests

The military court of the southern district in Rostow am Don announced the judgment in absence for 11 people, while 12 accused appeared personally. A member is said to have died during Russian detention, while others have now been exchanged.

Investigations and human rights violations

The process concerned members of the Azow Regiment, which is now part of the National Guard of Ukraine, and which were captured during the siege of Mariupol. According to the public prosecutor, the court found that the accused undertook "actions to violate the constitutional order of Russia". The Russian authorities classified the AZOV unit in 2022 as a terrorist group after they started the comprehensive invasion of Ukraine.

political prisoners and international reactions

The Russian human rights organization Memorial described the accused as political prisoners and reported on evidence of human rights violations that included “cruel treatment, unbearable conditions of detention, lack of normal food and medical care, insults, bullying, blows and torture”.

appreciation of the National Guard

The verdict fell together with the day of the National Guard of Ukraine. President Wolodymyr Selenskyj honored the courage of the National Guard units and confirmed the diplomatic efforts of Kyiw, all Ukrainian prisoners of war, including the fighter of the Azow Regiment.

Selenskyj's appeal for the freedom of the prisoners of war

Selenskyj said Kiev Gedenke "of all Ukrainian warriors - especially the warrior of the National Guard, the defender of Mariupol and the fighter of Azow, who are unfortunately in Russian captivity." He emphasized: "We work on all diplomatic levels to free them and bring them home."