The case of the 24. Russian prosectution requests 16 to 24 years in prison for Azov regiment POWs—Mediazona’s photo report

The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don has started hearing closing arguments in the trial of 24 Ukrainian prisoners of war from the Azov regiment. All defendants face charges of forcible seizure of power committed by an organised group and organising the activities of a terrorist organisation. Additionally, 11 defendants were charged under a third article related to undergoing training for terrorist activities.Prosecutors requested sentences ranging from 16 to 24 years’ imprisonment in maximum security penal colonies for the defendants. Nine of the accused are women. Two Ukrainians have already been exchanged, so they are being tried in absentia. Another defendant, Oleksandr Ishchenko, died in pre-trial detention, and the case against him was dismissed.The defendants served in the Azov regiment, which Russia has designated as a terrorist organisation. However, not all of them carried weapons, and some had left the army before the Russian invasion began.For instance, the eight women on trial in Rostov worked as cooks preparing food for the military. Some were captured in Mariupol, while others were detained during “filtration” procedures when trying to leave the Russian-occupied city after heavy fighting in the spring of 2022.The human rights group Memorial recognised all the defendants as political prisoners. As the activists note, none of the defendants are charged with war crimes. Rather, they are being tried solely for serving in the Ukrainian Azov regiment, which the Russian Supreme Court declared a terrorist organisation in 2022.Here is a photo report from today’s hearings.

Nina Bondarenko, 40, mother of two minors, was one of Azov’s cooks. The prosecution requested a 17-year prison term for her under two articles of the Russian Criminal Code.

Oleh Mizhgorodskyy is a former commander of Azov’s vehicle platoon, who left the service in 2021 in the rank of lieutenant. Under two articles of the Criminal Code, the prosecutors requested 22 years in a maximum security penal colony for him.

Yaroslav Zhdamarov, 35, served in Azov as a sapper and dog handler in 2015-2019. Under three articles of the Criminal Code, 16 years in prison is requested for him.

Junior Sergeant Oleksandr Merochenets, 25, was a commander of a grenade launcher platoon. He is facing 23 years of imprisonment under three articles of the Criminal Code.

Mykyta Timonin, 28, was a grenade launcher operator. Requested term: 22 years.

Vladyslava Maiboroda, 25, served in Azov as a cook since 2020. She left Azovstal on 17 March 2022. In April, she was detained by the Russian military. The prosecution is requesting 16 years in prison for her.

Liliya Rudenko, 40, mother of two minors, was a cook in the Azov regiment. Under two articles of the Criminal Code, she is facing 19 years in prison, which is the most severe punishment for a woman in this trial.

Oleksii Smykov, 27, served in Azov as a sniper, mortar gunner, machine gunner, radio telephone operator and diver. The prosecution is requesting 23 years for him.

Oleksander Mukhin, 31, served in Azov in 2017-2018 before being discharged with the rank of senior soldier. He was detained in the spring of 2022 and is now facing 22 years in a maximum security penal colony.

Natalia Holfiner, 50, was a part of Azov until January 2022, she was in charge of the food supply warehouse. Under two articles of the Criminal Code, she is facing a 16-year prison term.

Oleh Zharkov, 52, unlike the other men on trial, he didn’t serve in Azov, but was a freelance handyman. Despite this, the prosecution requested 19.5 years in prison under two articles for him.

Artem Hrebeshkov, 33, father of a minor daughter, was a contract soldier at Azov. Requested trem: 23 yeaers.

Marina Tekin, 34, mother of a minor daughter, worked as a cook at Azov. Requested trem: 16.5 yeaers.

Olena Avramova, 51, was one of the cooks at Azov. The prosecution requested 17 years in prison for her.

Lieutenant Oleh Tyshkul, 55, is a former Azov instructor, he served in the regiment until 2021. Under three articles of the Criminal Code, the prosecution requested the longest term for him: 24 years in a maximum security penal colony.

Artem Hrebeshkov was dismissed from Azov in 2021, due to incompetent performance.

Artur Hretskyy, 22, was a firing pointer of an armoured vechicle, who started his service in Azov two years prior to the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine. Requested term: 23 years.

Liliya Pavrianidis, 29, and Iryna Mohitych, 42, were both cooks at Azov. Mohitych quit this job on 12 February 2022, right before the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in Ukraine. The prosecution requested 17 years in prison for Pavrianidis and 16 years for Mohitych.

Editor: Dmitry Tkachev