In April, Russian courts issued politically motivated sentences almost daily. According to calculations by The Insider, at least 145 people were sentenced to actual terms ranging from one year to 27 years of imprisonment over the month, which is almost one and a half times more than in March.
The largest number of politically motivated sentences were issued under articles on "terrorism," "sabotage," "treason," and "espionage."
At the same time, the largest category of convicts were Ukrainian prisoners of war captured in the Kursk region. In April, judges of the Moscow District Military Court continued to issue sentences in a streamlined manner to servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who were captured in the Kursk region. Over the month, 27 sentences were issued against 58 prisoners of war, with five sentences handed down on April 11. They were accused of "terrorism" and sentenced to terms ranging from 14 to 17 years.
In addition to "actions," reasons for prosecution included comments and publications on social networks, conversations with acquaintances, and alleged cooperation with FBK.
A separate category of cases with gigantic terms involved cooperation with the GUR of Ukraine, volunteer units, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced 41-year-old resident of Stavropol Ruslan Bely to 20 years of imprisonment. According to the investigation, he collected data on the gas infrastructure in Yessentuki and transmitted it to members of the "Freedom of Russia" Legion**, and also prepared an explosion. The same court sentenced Ukrainian citizen Sergey Solodky to 18 years of imprisonment in a case of cooperation with the GUR. He was accused of collecting data on the location of Russian military in the occupied Oleshky of the Kherson region and "preparing to blow up" a vehicle with security forces.
The occupation Kherson Regional Court sentenced 19-year-old Yulia Sokolova to 9 years of imprisonment on charges of transmitting data on the deployment of Russian military and equipment in the occupied territory. At the same time, the Ukrainian citizen, who received a Russian passport in 2023, was accused of "treason" (as a Russian citizen) and "espionage" (which applies to foreign citizens).
Courts stamped terms for participation in Ukrainian battalions "Aidar"** and "Azov"**. The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced 31-year-old Ukrainian Sergey Kosolap to 18 years of imprisonment for serving in the "Aidar" battalion in 2015. Kosolap was detained in October 2023 in the occupied territory and convicted almost ten years after the incriminated events. The same term was received by Ukrainian Artur Tkachenko for serving in "Azov."
In April, courts continued to send teenagers to long terms. The 1st Eastern District Military Court sentenced 15-year-old schoolboy Yegor Shaposhnikov from Khabarovsk to 5 years of imprisonment. According to the investigation, he created a group in Telegram where he called for the overthrow of the government, studied instructions for making Molotov cocktails, and planned to throw them at a military base.
The Kemerovo Regional Court sentenced 17-year-olds Alexander Zakharenko***, Vsevolod Kushnir***, and Saveliy Nizhnikov*** to terms ranging from 5 to 6 years in a case of setting fire to a relay cabinet. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they agreed to the arson after finding an offer to earn 60 thousand rubles on the internet.
* Recognized in Russia as a "foreign agent" and "undesirable" organization.
** Recognized in Russia as a "terrorist" organization.
*** Included in the list of "terrorists and extremists."