The Southern District Military Court of Rostov-on-Don sentenced three residents of Crimea to imprisonment for calling for the overthrow of power and preparing a terrorist attack, the press service of the court reports.
“In the period from May 1 to May 19, 2020, on the territory of the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Kuliievych, Lahutin, Khoroshaiev and Reshetnychenko posted leaflets in public places calling for the overthrow of the state power of the Russian Federation, as well as statements aimed at justifying such activities”,– the court said.
According to the report, we are talking about Andrii Kulievich, Mykola Lahutin, Valentyn Khoroshaiev and Danylo Reshetnychenko.
In addition, the Russian security forces claim that Kuliievych, Lahutin and Khoroshaiev, in order to produce an explosion in a crowded place, searched for relevant objects, reconnoitred the presence of anti-terrorist systems on them, and also made three explosive devices and illegally stored them in places of his residence.
It should be noted that the accusations in this case are based on the testimony of hidden witnesses and the conclusion of so-called experts who actively cooperate with the Russian security forces. The case was considered in gross violation of international law.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center strongly protests and states that this decision is illegal, politically motivated and criminal. Such a policy of the Russian Federation is a demonstration of the struggle against the political convictions of the citizens of the occupied Crimea.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center demands that the sentences of the defendants in the case be canceled and that other political prisoners be released immediately.
The defendants did not have time to complete their intent, as they were detained by the Russian security forces, they said in court.
As a result, Kuliievych was sentenced to 7 and a half years in a strict regime correctional colony, Khoroshaiev to 7 years and 3 months, Lahutin to 7 years, and Reshetnychenko to 2 years in a penal colony.
Kuliievich, Khoroshaev and Lagutin will spend the first four years in prison. They were also fined 250,000 rubles.
According to the Graty media outlet, the case was initiated, including, according to the testimony of the key witness in the case, film director Oleh Sentsov – chemistry student Oleksandr Pyrohov claimed that Oleksii Chyrnii, under the leadership of Sentsov, was preparing explosions in Simferopol, and even handed him a dummy bomb made by the FSB .