Latest news with #SouthernDistrictMilitaryCourt
OC Media
31-07-2025
- Politics
- OC Media
Three members of Shamil Basaev's armed group from Kabarda–Balkaria sentenced to lengthy prison terms
Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member A military court in Rostov-on-Don has sentenced three residents of Kabarda–Balkaria to prison for participating in an attack on Russian paratroopers in Chechnya under Shamil Basaev's command 25 years ago. The Southern District Military Court has sentenced Aslanbek Kazanchev and Anzor Batyrov to 17 and 14 years in prison respectively for participating in a criminal gang, armed rebellion and attempting to kill military personnel. A third defendant, Taymuraz Nakusov, was also convicted, but had entered a pre-trial cooperation agreement and testified against Kazanchev and Batyrov. The Investigative Committee of Russia confirmed the sentencing of Kazanchev and Batyrov, while the verdict for Nakusov is published on the court's official website. Both Kazanchev and Batyrov denied the charges. Their verdicts have not yet entered into legal force and may be appealed. According to case materials, Kazanchev and Batyrov joined an armed group formed in the 1990s in Chechnya under the leadership of rebel commanders Basaev and Ibn al-Khattab. The prosecution stated that in 1999 they arrived in the Shali district of the republic and became members of one of the militant units. On 29 February 2000, troops from the 76th Guards Airborne Division based in Pskov detected the movement of an armed group near the village of Ulus-Kert in Chechnya's Shatoysky District. That same day, a group of at least 2,000 militants was reportedly formed to confront the Russian forces, with Kazanchev and Batyrov among them. The battle lasted until 06:00. on 1 March. According to the case file, of the 90 paratroopers involved in the clash, 84 were killed and four sustained injuries. According to Russian media outlet Kommersant, in court, both defendants denied involvement in the fighting or being members of an armed group. Batyrov, 44, from Kabarda–Balkaria, told the court that he was living and working as a loader in Nalchik between 1999 and 2000 and had not left the city. Advertisement Kazanchev, 53, also from Kabarda–Balkaria, claimed he had travelled to Chechnya in 1999 to receive religious education and military training. He said he trained with firearms at a camp in Urus-Martan under Basaev and Khattab, whom he viewed at the time as 'defenders of the fatherland'. In December 1999, after Russian air strikes targeted the camp, Kazanchev said he left and relocated to other villages. He claimed that on 29 February 2000, he was three to four kilometres from the site of the battle, and had a weapon but never used it against Russian forces. According to his account, he changed into civilian clothes in March 2000, surrendered his weapon, and left Chechnya. He was later detained in Daghestan and sentenced for participating in an illegal armed formation. Kazanchev argued that his renewed prosecution was excessive, as he had already served a sentence for similar charges. The prosecution's case relied heavily on the testimony of Nakusov, a former member of the group who entered into a cooperation agreement with investigators. He testified that Kazanchev and Batyrov were members of the so-called 'Kabardian Jamaat' under Basaev and Khattab. All three were reportedly detained on the same day in May 2023. Although Nakusov admitted to taking part in the battle against the Pskov paratroopers, he said he could not recall whether Batyrov and Kazanchev had been present. Three other classified witnesses, identified as former members of the armed group, also testified that Kazanchev and Batyrov had been part of the same unit. Despite cooperating with investigators, admitting guilt, and citing his five children and a wife on maternity leave, Nakusov was sentenced to 11 and a half years in a high-security prison, according to the court's ruling. He has already appealed the decision to the Military Court of Appeal, which upheld the verdict, stating that all mitigating circumstances had been considered. Batyrov had a previous conviction — in 2006, he was sentenced to two and a half years in a penal settlement for participating in an illegal armed group. He has three underage children. Under Russian law, having underage children allows for a more lenient sentence. Aslanbek Kazanchev was previously convicted in 2000 and sentenced to five years for membership in an armed group and illegal possession of weapons. In 2022, he was sentenced to six months of correctional labour for failing to pay child support. He also has three children and lives in Baksan. According to Russian security agencies, more than 2,000 militants participated in the battle against the Pskov paratroopers. The exact number of people prosecuted in connection with this event is unknown. However, media reports suggest that at least 40 individuals have faced charges. Some remain on the federal wanted list, while others were detained in recent years across various North Caucasus republics and have already been sentenced.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
Melitopol native sentenced to 27 years in Russian prison for attempting to poison military graduates
Ukrainian national Yehor Semenov has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for his involvement in the "poisoning" of graduates from the Armavir Higher Military Aviation School. The ruling has been handed down by the Southern District Military Court in Russia. Source: Russia's Southern District Military Court on Telegram Quote: "The defendant has been found guilty and sentenced to 27 years' imprisonment in a strict regime penal colony with the first 5 years to be served in prison." Details: Russian investigators claimed that Semenov had intended to cooperate with Ukrainian security services as early as February 2023. He allegedly recorded a video message in Ukrainian expressing his intent to collaborate with Ukraine's Security Service and Armed Forces, and was later tasked with organising the poisoning of Russian military personnel. The target was graduates of the Armavir Air Defence School, who were planning a banquet in October 2023. According to the prosecution, Semenov was tasked with delivering alcoholic beverages and a cake laced with a poisonous substance to the event. He allegedly studied the restaurant's layout, noting the positions of windows, tables and CCTV cameras. He also ordered the cake and purchased the toxic substances. Semenov supposedly delivered the alcohol and cake to the restaurant by courier on 20 October. The Russian graduates found the alcohol and cake suspicious and did not consume them. The defendant was detained on 21 October 2023. The court found him guilty under charges of terrorism and high treason (Article 205.3(a) and Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Background: In October 2023, it was reported that Yehor Semenov, a native of the Ukrainian city of Melitopol, had been detained for 15 days in Armavir, Russia's Krasnodar Krai, under an administrative charge of disorderly conduct. Russian Telegram channel Baza reported that Semenov had been apprehended in Stavropol while attempting to fly to Moscow. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukrainian man gets 10-year sentence in Russia for alleged US$120 donation to Azov Regiment
Russia's Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don has sentenced Zaporizhzhia Oblast resident Stanislav Rudenko to 10 years in prison for "promoting terrorism", supposedly by transferring money to purchase drones for the Azov Regiment of the Ukrainian defence forces. Source: Nastoyashchee Vremya TV channel, citing the court's press service Quote: "The investigators reported that Rudenko, 'sharing the ideology' of the Azov Regiment, decided to assist its members by financing their activities. On 13 November 2023, he saw an announcement and transferred money for purchasing drones." Details: Nastoyashchee Vremya states that Russian prosecutors claimed Rudenko transferred approximately UAH 5,000 (US$120) to the soldiers. For this, the Russian court sentenced Rudenko to 10 years in prison. Background: On 18 October 2024, Ukrainian human rights activist and serviceman Maksym Butkevych was released from Russian captivity. Butkevych, who fought in Ukraine's east as part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, was captured by Russian troops in the summer of 2022. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison in March 2023 by a "court" in the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic", a Russian-backed terrorist organisation. On 14 January, the 2nd Western Military District Court in Moscow sentenced seven Ukrainian prisoners of war who took part in the Ukrainian Armed Forces' offensive in Kursk Oblast. The soldiers were sentenced to 15-16 years of imprisonment. On 26 March, it was reported that a military court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced 23 Ukrainian prisoners of war who served in the Azov Regiment to imprisonment in a maximum-security colony. Twelve of them received real sentences ranging from 13 to 23 years, while the rest were given sentences in absentia. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
Russia sentences Ukrainian POWs to 13-23 years in prison in Azov case
A military court in Rostov-on-Don has sentenced 23 Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) who served in the Azov Regiment of the Ukrainian defence forces to imprisonment in a maximum-security colony. Twelve of them received real sentences ranging from 13 to 23 years, while the rest were given sentences in absentia. Source: Mediazona, a Russian online media outlet Quote: "The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don has sentenced Ukrainian POWs who served in the Azov Regiment in different years to real terms of imprisonment in a maximum-security penal colony." Details: Mediazona reported that three judges, led by Vyacheslav Korsakov, passed sentences on the Ukrainian POWs: Yaroslav Zhdamarov, Oleksandr Merochenets, Mykyta Tymonin, Oleksandr Mukhin, Oleh Tyshkul and Artur Hretskyi, who received 22 years in a strict regime colony; Oleksandr Irkh and Artem Hrebeshkov, who were sentenced to 20 years each; Oleh Myzhhorodskyi, who received 17 years; Oleh Zharkov, sentenced to 13 years; Anatolii Hrytsyk, who received 19 years; and Oleksii Smykov, who was given 23 years. All of them plan to appeal the verdict. The men were brought to court in handcuffs. Before the verdict was announced, Oleh Zharkov fell ill and an ambulance was called due to stomach pain. Eleven people were sentenced in absentia as they had been brought back to Ukraine as part of a prisoner swap. Davyd Kasatkyn and Dmytro Labinskyi were each given 23 years in a strict regime colony. Nine women who served as military cooks were sentenced in absentia to a general regime colony for terms ranging from 13 to 14 years. All of them were swapped in September of the previous year. Depending on the charges, the prosecutor requested varying prison terms for every person, ranging from 13 to 24 years. The case against Oleksandr Ishchenko, who died in pre-trial detention, was closed, and therefore, he was not sentenced. In court, the defendants repeatedly stated that their testimonies had been falsified, that they had been interrogated without lawyers present, subjected to humiliating treatment, denied medical care and suffered torture. "I saw bags on people's heads, wires on different limbs, broken ribs, damaged kidneys, people beaten to death, hunger for more than a year, no medical care, people rotting, legs, arms, lice, bedbugs. Twice a year, we went to the shower – we came out dirtier than we went in, and we were beaten," Mykyta Tymonin said in his closing statement. Background: On 18 October 2024, Ukrainian human rights activist and serviceman Maksym Butkevych was released from Russian captivity. Butkevych, who fought in Ukraine's east as part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, was captured by Russian troops in the summer of 2022. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison in March 2023 by a "court" in the so-called "Luhansk People's Republic," a Russian-backed terrorist organisation. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Crimean Tatar human rights activist Izetov held in harsh conditions in Russia's Yakutsk penal colony
Riza Izetov, a Crimean Tatar human rights activist sentenced by a Russian court to 19 years in prison, has reported harsh detention conditions in the Yakutsk penal colony, where he has experienced repeated disciplinary sanctions. Source: Crimean Solidarity, a Ukrainian non-governmental organisation Details: Izetov told Crimean Solidarity about the poor conditions in Yakutsk Penal Colony No. 1, stating that he is "constantly" subjected to disciplinary measures and placed in solitary confinement, including for uniform violations and for falling asleep during the day due to a hypertension attack. "Having seen me on camera, [the warders] organised a commission and punished me. I'd like to leave this place as soon as possible," Crimean Solidarity quoted Izetov as saying. He also reported that prison staff exert psychological and moral pressure on him. Izetov noted that three Crimean Tatars are being held in the institution where he is imprisoned. About 15 people are serving sentences for terrorism-related offences, all of whom are either in solitary confinement or in transit and transfer cells. Crimean Solidarity reported that Izetov is expected to be transferred to a high-security prison, likely in Russia's Far East, in Krasnoyarsk Krai, either in Minusinsk or Yenisei. The human rights defender also stated that he has no right to receive calls and expressed doubts about the possibility of meeting with his family. Despite having the right to long visits, the administration may deny these meetings due to his disciplinary sanctions. Izetov also mentioned that the cell had terrible lighting. It used to be cold, but now the heating has been turned on. The prisoners are forced to drink water directly from the tap. A court sentenced Riza to 19 years in prison, of which the first 5 years he must serve in a high-security prison and the rest in a strict regime colony. Izetov was accused of organising the activities of the Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is banned in Russia but operates legally in Ukraine and other countries. Background: In March 2022, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced five Crimean Solidarity activists detained in connection with the "second Simferopol group" of Hizb ut-Tahrir to prison terms ranging from 15 to 19 years. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
