Prosecutors seek 28-year prison sentence for woman accused of murdering pro-war blogger

Prosecutors in St. Petersburg have requested a 28-year prison sentence for Daria Trepova, who is accused of killing pro-war blogger Vladlen Tatarsky in April using an explosive device hidden in a statuette.

Trepova, 26, is currently on trial for carrying out a terrorist attack at a bar in Russia’s second city where notorious Russian military correspondent Vladlen Tatarsky, whose real name was Maxim Fomin, was making a public appearance.

Trepova was seen handing Tatarsky, 52, a statue of himself that exploded shortly afterwards, killing him and injuring 52 others. Trepova claims she was unaware that there were explosives inside the statue.

The prosecutor also requested the court order Trepova to pay a fine of 800,000 rubles (€8,332).

Eighteen civil lawsuits have been filed against Trepova to date, though this number may increase if other victims of the attack decide to make financial claims. The largest civil suit was made by Tatarsky’s mother, who sued Trepova for 15 million rubles (€156,227).

Dmitry Kasintsev, who is accused of harbouring Trepova after the attack, is also on trial. The state prosecutor requested the court sentence him to 1 year and 10 months in prison.

Trepova has pleaded innocent to the charges. She and Kasintsev are both to be given an opportunity to make a final statement to the court ahead of the verdict being pronounced, which could happen later on Friday.