Russian court hands long jail terms to Ukrainian fighters who defended Mariupol
A Russian military court has handed down long prison sentences to several members of Ukraine's Azov Regiment, which led the defense of the key city of Mariupol during the early months of the war.
The defendants were convicted on Wednesday of charges including violent seizure of power and participation in a terrorist organization and given prison terms ranging from 13 to 23 years, according to the Prosecutor General's Office of Russia.
Russia has sought to paint the Azov Regiment as made up of Nazis and nationalists, allegations the group denies, and the US last year lifted a ban on supplying them weapons.
The city of Mariupol became a symbol of Ukrainian resistance, after Ukrainian soldiers, including members of the Azov unit, and residents sheltered for weeks underground in 2022 at the city's massive Azovstal steelworks plant refusing to surrender to Russian forces.
The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don announced the verdict in absentia for 11 individuals, while 12 appeared in person. One member reportedly died in Russian detention, while others have since been exchanged.
The case involved members of the Azov regiment — now part of Ukraine's National Guard — captured during the siege of Mariupol.
According to the prosecution, the court established the individuals took 'actions aimed at the violent change of the constitutional order of Russia.' Russian authorities designated the Azov unit a terrorist group in 2022, after it started the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The trial, initially dubbed 'the case of 24,' involved Ukrainian prisoner of war Oleksandr Ishchenko, who died in a Russian pretrial detention center as a result of a closed chest injury due to 'contact with a blunt object,' according to Azov commander Svyatoslav Palamar citing a Ukrainian forensic expert.
Russian human rights organization Memorial designated the defendants political prisoners and said there was evidence of violations, including 'cruel treatment, excruciating conditions of detention, lack of normal food and medical care, insults, bullying, beatings and torture.'
The sentencing coincided with Ukraine's National Guard Day, which President Volodymyr Zelensky marked by praising the bravery of National Guard units and reaffirming Kyiv's diplomatic efforts to free all Ukrainian prisoners of war, including Azov fighters.
Zelensky said Kyiv remembers 'all Ukrainian warriors – in particular, National Guard warriors, defenders of Mariupol, and Azov fighters, who, unfortunately, remain in Russian captivity.'
'We are working at all levels of diplomacy to free them and bring them home,' he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
6 minutes ago
- USA Today
The LA immigration riots reminds that neither party cares about law and order
The LA immigration riots reminds that neither party cares about law and order | Opinion Democrats and Republicans have a history of ignoring the law when it suits their political needs. Show Caption Hide Caption Newsom, Trump latest clash in long-standing feud Governor Gavin Newsom hit back at the Trump administration for deploying military troops to LA following ICE protests. President Donald Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom have been fighting over protests and riots taking place in Los Angeles. In response to attacks on federal immigration officers, Trump involved the National Guard and members of the military in order to get things under control. Newsom responded by asking the courts to intervene and saying Trump has "lost it." But this controversy is exhausting because it is clear that nobody involved is interested in the even distribution of justice. Everyone is acting to serve their own political ends, which has been happening for years. Neither political party has a monopoly on law and order. Those who think their preferred party is the one that truly champions the rule of law are falling for partisan lies and likely have a short memory. Democrats and Republicans have undermined the rule of law There is a great irony to Trump aggressively responding to the June LA riots when he just months ago pardoned those charged with crimes in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, including those who assaulted police officers. Trump's law and order campaign is entirely theatrical. He has no problem pardoning perpetrators of political violence or crime otherwise when they are aligned with him. He rewards people who commit political violence on his behalf and brings down the hammer against those who do so in the name of causes he is opposed to. It is a completely partisan scheme that goes against what the rule of law actually means. That doesn't mean I disagree with Trump, though. When cities like LA hardly do anything to stop violence, Trump gets the political opportunity to step in and stop riots. Now, these protests are spreading to more cities, which is likely to result in broader violence and more fights with the executive. Opinion: Newsom comes with too much baggage. Democrats need a new voice for 2028. That goes both ways. Remember when Democrats tried to market themselves as the party of law and order as Trump faced a slate of criminal trials during his reelection campaign. That's laughable in light of their past actions. Democrats rightly blamed Trump for his provocation in 2021 after Democrats did the same thing during the Black Lives Matter riots of 2020. There was no shortage of elected Democrats who simply stood by as violence and looting swept the country, and in some cases, they actively encouraged such violence. Biden was no better on the pardons front, brazenly using the presidential pen to corruptly pardon his son and other family members. Biden has previously posted on social media that nobody is above the law. Neither major party really cares about political violence; they only care about it when they can score political points or when they have to defend themselves against the ramifications of it. Following the law has become a partisan issue America now has different rules for enforcing the law, depending on who is in charge. It doesn't matter if you assaulted police officers while breaking into the U.S. Capitol; you'll be generously pardoned four years later. It doesn't matter if you participate in mass riots and looting in the name of racial justice, Democrats will sit by idly as you do more than $1 billion in damage to American cities. I am exhausted by watching politicians pretend that they care about violence beyond the political forces that it brings. Opinion: Trump's dysfunctional government can learn from these Republican governors It's clear that neither major party can be trusted to present leaders whom Americans can believe will enforce the rule of law justly. However, the best solution for our problem of partisan law and order is to stop electing leaders whom we cannot trust to enforce the law impartially. The past two administrations have done much to undermine the rule of law, and Americans eventually need to decide that we are sick of it. Dace Potas is an opinion columnist for USA TODAY and a graduate of DePaul University with a degree in political science.
New York Post
28 minutes ago
- New York Post
Newsom and Bass' riot mishandling: Letters to the Editor — June 16, 2025
The Issue: Gov. Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass' mishandling of the anti-ICE riots. America today is a country separated into two nations: One Democratic, one Republican ('Cali's gruesome Newsom twosome,' Douglas Murray, June 13). There is no more meeting of minds and compromises between them. I've been watching the sad state of affairs in Los Angeles. It galled me to see rioters burning and spitting on a US flag. Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass are clueless and useless. They should be ashamed of themselves for not instantly responding and nipping this riot in the bud. The California forest fires, the riots, looting and destruction coupled with the lack of leadership have many Californians fleeing the state. Joseph Valente Staten Island Are we to believe Bass' dismissal, saying rioters 'got a little unruly' or Gov. Newsom's absurd surmise that the deployment of the National Guard was 'purposefully inflammatory?' Los Angeles deserves leaders who can handle the truth, not these gibberish whisperers. People who live in glass houses shouldn't condone the throwing of stones. James Evans Worcester, Mass. Thank you, Newsom. Unlike anyone before, you have maximally shown why support for the left is imploding at this very moment by declaring, in golden robes of gubernatorial majesty, that democracy is under attack in LA. You're lying to us, and not for the first time. You and the woke left actually despise democracy; it's anarchy you cherish. Not even six months have passed since President Trump took office, and we are beginning to see with astonishing clarity why his election was so crucial to the preservation of this great nation. Craig Rossell Carlsbad, Calif. It is a most disgraceful scene to see the US flag being disrespected, spat on and burnt by protesters who are probably illegal aliens. Are you listening, Newsom? You organized this anarchy. Riots have to be stopped immediately. You're not governing the city. What are you going to do when a big earthquake happens? End this nonsense now or worse will come. Lorraine Zanzonico Brooklyn Here we go again with riots in Los Angeles. Remember Watts in the '70s? Venezuela has its faults, but they have got the prison system down pat. What our country needs is a super-max prison where rioters and looters can spend 30 years locked up with their like-minded buddies. Granted, that won't deter all of them, because incompetent fools like Gov. Newsom and Mayor Bass will always be the flies in the ointment, who will defend them and hinder their arrest and prosecution. However, it may cause a few of the brighter ones to think twice before they burn our flag, set cars on fire, assault law enforcement and loot stores. Alcatraz would be a good place to start. Bill Lewis Danbury, Conn. Newsom taunted border czar Tom Homan to lock him up; Trump told reporters he thought Homan should do it ('I'd lock up 'nice guy' Gavin: Don,' June 10). Newsom then responded by accusing Trump of calling for his arrest. It's like a speeder flying past a police officer screaming 'pull me over.' Perhaps things would calm down a little if Newsom was more respectful of law and order. Peter Goldring Freehold, NJ Gov. Newsom needs to be arrested for both the riots and the mishandling of the Palisades fires. You can also add Mayor Bass to the list. Newsom is the biggest narcissist ever. He seems to think that rules only apply to those he sees fit. Remember COVID and his mask-less dinner at French Laundry? California is a cesspool. Just look at LA and San Francisco — the latter he ruined all by himself. Palmer Woodrow Las Vegas, Nev. Tom Homan has important things to do and cannot be bothered by Newsom's publicity-seeking call to be arrested. Julia Lutch Davis, Calif. Want to weigh in on today's stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to letters@ Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style.
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
She married a U.S. citizen for love. After she alleged abuse, he threatened deportation.
The Facebook message that popped into her account started as a flirtation: "Hey, how are you?" She had newly arrived from Bangladesh to study for her master's in information technology on a student visa in 2022 and wasn't interested in a relationship. She liked the message. Then he texted again a few days later, "Hey, I have tickets to a Broadway show." She had never been to a Broadway show before, so she went — and their whirlwind first date quickly turned to love for her and then marriage. On Feb. 14, 2024, the couple joined the line to get married at the New York City courthouse. "I brought a white dress online, not very fancy and white shoes, tiara and flowers," she said. "I was smiling, just looking at him. I felt really good." Her new husband filed for a green card for his wife. A temporary one was granted, and she moved to his family's house in Brooklyn. The future seemed bright. A rise in the threat of deportations Now, just a little more than a year later, the 31-year-old woman, who asked CBS News not to use her name due to safety fears, has separated from her husband after alleging abuse — and is now worried about being deported. As immigration enforcement raids increase in the U.S. – including operations in Los Angeles, which led to protests that prompted President Trump to mobilize National Guard troops — communities are shaken watching the deportations of families, friends and co-workers. One community that's especially vulnerable, experts say, are victims of domestic violence. Crystal Justice, chief external affairs officer at the National Domestic Violence Hotline, told CBS News in a statement that they have seen abusive partners "threatening to deport a partner or their family or withholding legal documents to limit a person's ability to travel." Many immigrants are in the U.S. on a visa supported by a U.S. citizen, or are undocumented, with few protections. Often, as the relationship spirals into abuse allegations, spurned or angered partners can threaten to deport their loved ones with uncertain immigration statuses. Esther Limb, immigration practice director at Her Justice in New York City, a not-for-profit that advises and trains attorneys to provide free legal help to women, said there has been a rise in the threats of deportations by abusers. "While using immigration status against their victims is a common tactic used by many abusers, by echoing the anti-immigrant rhetoric and pointing to immigration enforcements happening in their communities, the threat of deportation by abusive spouses is louder than ever and allows abusers to wield greater power and control over their victims," Limb said. A massive backlog and long waits Limb represents numerous clients — including the one interviewed for this CBS News piece — in filing petitions to stay in the U.S. after alleging domestic violence. Waiting for an answer to these petitions can take years due to backlogs and vetting for the applications. Immigrants who allege abuse can file to stay in the U.S. under the Violence Against Women Act, but those petitions can come with a wait of sometimes more than 36 months for an answer. These applicants are close relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, and they can file for status on their own, without the abuser's knowledge, consent or participation. There were 35,917 VAWA petitions in 2024, according to data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Petition filings have increased by more than 350% in the last decade. In 2014, there were 7,130 filings. Immigrants — including undocumented immigrants — can also file for a nonimmigrant status visa, known as a U-visa, if they were victims of various crimes, including domestic violence. The wait time for final approval is more than eight years, due to a massive backlog of petitions, Limb said. There were 41,558 petitions filed in 2024, doubling over the past decade, according to USCIS data. There are more than 238,000 cases currently pending. People are "very, very scared" In the meantime, immigrants watch, wait and worry, hoping their petition will be approved, like the woman interviewed by CBS News. She said she cries suddenly at work sometimes, waking up at night and constantly looks over her shoulder. She left her husband, she says, after various incidents of verbal and physical abuse. She claims the police came to their house, and she went to the emergency room, where she says the hospital told her she had to make a police report. She was given a list of what constitutes domestic abuse. "I didn't want to go back," she said. "...I didn't know what to do." She said her sister, who immigrated to the U.S. years ago came to visit her from Connecticut and told her, "You don't have to go back." She then cut off all contact with her husband and his family. Then the messages and threats started. CBS News reviewed text messages and documents at the Her Justice office in New York City, allegedly from the client's former partner threatening to call ICE and deport her. She filed for a VAWA petition, her lawyer said. CBS News viewed videos of the couple's wedding day and interviewed the client, but did not reach out to the former partner for safety concerns for the client. One message read, "1. You are my wife. 2. I am your petitioner. Lawfully you cannot just leave, as an American you are my responsibility. I'm sorry but I warned you." Text message showing alleged deportation threats CBS News/ Handout Others were sent to her sister. One text message said, "I will be reaching out to immigration soon." Another said, "ICE can show up any day and deport." Limb said abusers now have more power and control right now as they know they can use their partners' immigration status in the current climate. "That is more scary than anything else for a lot of our clients to be deported or to be removed and/or separated from their children," Limb said. "People are very, very scared." For anonymous, confidential help, people can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224. People can text START to 88788 or chat on
