A Russian court has convicted 23 Ukrainians, including 12 from the Azov Brigade, on terrorism charges, met with strong denunciation from Kyiv as illegitimate. Sentences range from 13 to 23 years, generally in harsh penal conditions. Memorial has classified them as political prisoners, emphasizing the need for international response to such unfair trials.
A court in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, has convicted 23 Ukrainians on terrorism charges, drawing condemnation from Kyiv as a violation of international law. Among the convicted are 12 members of the Azov Brigade, noted for their defense of Mariupol during the initial phase of the conflict. The sentences range from 13 to 23 years to be served in severe penal colonies.
The charges against the prisoners include orchestrating a violent coup and conducting activities for a terrorist organization, with some accused of overseeing illegal military exercises amidst the ongoing war. Notably, 11 individuals, including nine women, received sentences in absentia despite already being exchanged back to Ukraine previously.
According to independent news source Mediazona, the Azov members are reportedly planning to appeal the verdicts, with some contesting the charges, claiming their testimonies were coerced. This ruling coincided with discussions between Russia and Ukraine aimed at establishing a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict.
Human rights organization Memorial has classified the convicts as political prisoners, emphasizing that many were captured during the intense fighting in Mariupol and later detained while attempting to escape the city. Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, criticized the trial, labeling it a sham and calling for global action against such proceedings.
The Azov Brigade has been classified as a terrorist organization by Russia, while Ukraine vehemently disputes this characterization. Established initially by nationalist Andriy Biletskiy, authorities in Kyiv maintain that Azov has stepped away from its original political affiliations. For many Ukrainians, the Azov troops are symbolic of national resistance, particularly during the challenging times in Mariupol.
In the recent conviction of captured Ukrainians, including members of the Azov Brigade, Russia’s trial proceedings have been widely denounced as unjust and politically motivated. The harsh sentences imposed, along with allegations of coerced testimonies, accentuate concerns about the rule of law in the context of the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The case highlights a significant divergence in narrative regarding the Azov Brigade, considered as heroes by many Ukrainians while being labeled as terrorists by Moscow.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
