More than 50 people were involved in cases of participation in the Legion “Freedom of Russia” and RDK

Editorial “Layout” May 02, 2024 |

The most common article was treason or preparation for it.

The defendants in cases related to “Freedom of Russia” were 43 people associated with the RDK - 9, two more detainees, according to media reports, tried to join both the Legion and the RDK. The actual number of those prosecuted may be higher, since in some cases Russian courts hide data on these cases.

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Why were cases opened about connections with the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK)?

The most common article under which cases were initiated was high treason or preparation for it - Vorstka found at least 23 such cases, in nine cases the detainees were also charged under terrorist articles - 205, 205.2, 205.5 of the Criminal Code. Ten more people were accused of participating in or preparing for an illegal armed group (Article 208 of the Criminal Code).

At least 28 defendants have already been sentenced. All that is known about the rest is that they were detained or arrested. In some cases, there is no information about the status of those involved in the cases.

What sentences were handed down due to connections with the Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps (RDK)?

The first person detained for connections with the “Freedom of Russia” Legion became known in June 2022; 22-year-old Nikolai Okhlopkov from Yakutsk was detained allegedly for plans to join “Freedom of Russia”. A criminal case was opened against him for preparing to participate in an illegal armed group. In April 2023, Okhlopkov was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison.

The first defendants in the cases of connection with the Legion "Freedom of Russia", like Okhlopkov, were tried under the article on participation in an illegal armed group, but later cases began to be initiated also for attempted treason (Article 275 using Article 30 of the Criminal Code), as well as under terrorist articles - 205, 205.2 and 205.5. In March 2023, the Legion was declared a terrorist organization.

The most severe known sentence in the case of involvement in “Freedom of Russia” was handed down to Vladlen Menshikov, a resident of Rezha, Sverdlovsk region. In April 2024, the court sentenced him to 14 years in prison on charges of collaborating with a foreign organization on a confidential basis and justifying terrorism.

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The most lenient sentence was given to Shebekino resident Maxim Isaev. In July 2023, he was fined 70 thousand rubles for attempting to cross the Russian state border without valid travel documents.

The most severe sentence for association with RDK was the sentence given to Ugra resident Magomed Magomedov. In April 2024, he was sentenced to nine years in a maximum security colony. The sentence of former actor Kirill Kanakhin also stands out: in February 2024, he was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment on charges of treason.

Let us remind you that earlier “Verstka” also talked about how and to whom electronic summonses will begin to be served in November, and also that since the beginning of 2024, reservations from mobilization have become a popular “trick” of employers: the number of such vacancies has more than doubled.

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