Fencers Sergei and Violetta Bida became defendants in the case of unauthorized abandonment of the unit. They could face up to 10 years in prison

Epee fencers Sergei and Violetta Bida became defendants in a criminal case regarding unauthorized abandonment of their unit. about this with reference to an anonymous source . writes RIA Novosti

“A criminal case is being investigated against Sergei and Violetta Bida under the article of unauthorized leaving a unit or place of service,” the agency’s interlocutor said, confirming that both of them are liable for military service.

According to Article 337 of the Criminal Code, unauthorized abandonment of a unit or place of service committed during the period of mobilization or combat operations is punishable by imprisonment for a term of five to 10 years.

The day before it became known that the Ministry of Internal Affairs had put the fencers on the wanted list. However, the department did not specify under what specific article the couple was wanted.

In the summer of 2023, the Bida couple left for the United States. The American Academy of Master Fencing announced on June 21 that Sergei Bida has joined its coaching staff. At the same time, the athletes competed at the US Fencing Championships in neutral status. RIA Novosti writes that they did not notify the Russian side about this, which is why the senior coach of the Russian national epee team, Alexander Glazunov, was dismissed.

Sergei Bida is a silver medalist at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in the team championship in epee fencing. He also took silver and bronze at the World Championships and won three gold medals at the European Championships. Bida played for Dynamo and was formally an employee of the Russian Guard.

Violetta Bida (before Khrapin’s marriage) is a silver medalist at the 2019 World Championship team tournament. She also won the World Championship three times. “Mediazona” writes that the athlete was assigned to the CSKA club and was an employee of the Ministry of Defense.

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