A military court in the city of Rostov-on-Don has sentenced three citizens of Ukraine who were kidnapped by Russian security forces from the temporarily occupied Melitopol. The individuals are Viktor Azarovskyi, Oleg Shokol, and Denys Vasylyk. The relevant information was disclosed by lawyer Kateryna Bobrovska.
This is reported by Finway
Charges and Sentences
According to Bobrovska, the court hearing took place on March 19. Viktor Azarovskyi was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months in prison, Oleg Shokol to 7 years and 6 months, and Denys Vasylyk to 7 years. The lawyer emphasized that she had been involved in this case for nearly three years and considers it “a striking example of gross violations of international humanitarian and criminal law.”
“During the proceedings, there were gross violations: the trial was held in closed session, without access for the media and international observers, the minors were effectively deprived of their right to a fair and public trial, there are reasonable grounds to believe that pressure and coercion were applied to the children to provide testimony, the prolonged detention of minors in pre-trial detention contradicts the principle of exceptional measures, and effective and independent defense was significantly restricted,” wrote Kateryna Bobrovska.
Background of the Detainees and Rights Violations
It is known that the boys were detained in October 2023. The Russian authorities accused them of organizing a group allegedly preparing a terrorist act, sabotage, as well as the manufacture and storage of explosives. At the time of their detention and deportation to Russia, the boys were only 16-17 years old. After that, they spent nearly three years in pre-trial detention center No. 2 in Taganrog.
The lawyer emphasizes that the prolonged detention of minors in pre-trial detention contradicts international standards for the treatment of children. Furthermore, the closed nature of the trial and the lack of proper defense raise serious concerns about the respect for their rights.