Two defendants in the case of “Sevastopol saboteurs” were sentenced to 14 years in a maximum security colony

The Sevastopol City Court sentenced Alexei Bessarabov and Vladimir Dudka, defendants in the “case of Sevastopol saboteurs,” to 14 years in a strict regime colony. It is reported by Interfax.

Dudka and Bessarabov were found guilty of preparing for sabotage (part 3 of article 30, clause “a” of part 2 of article 281 of the Criminal Code) and illegal possession of weapons and explosives (part 3 of article 222.1 of the Criminal Code). Both pleaded not guilty and called the case fabricated.

The court also fined Dudka 350,000 rubles and Bessarabov 300,000 rubles.

Earlier, the prosecutor asked to sentence Dudka to 15 years in prison, and Bessarabov to 14 years and 10 months.

According to investigators, Dudka, Bessarabov, and another person involved in the case, Dmitry Shtyblikov, were part of a group preparing explosions “at military infrastructure and life support facilities” in Sevastopol in the fall of 2016.

Relatives of the accused, their colleagues, as well as Ukrainian authorities and public organizations say that the case was fabricated. In their opinion, the defendants gave their confessions under torture or blackmail. Dudka informed his relatives about the torture.

Shtyblikov pleaded guilty and entered into an agreement with the investigation, in November 2017 he was sentenced to five years in a strict regime colony with a fine of 200 thousand rubles.