A trial began in Russia yesterday for 22 Ukrainian soldiers who defended the city of Mariupol and Azovstal from Russian invading forces. The soldiers, who are members of the Azov battalion, were captured in May 2022 and are facing charges of terrorism. The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison, with a minimum sentence of 15 years.
The trial is taking place in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. The prosecution has accused the soldiers of participating in terrorist activities against the Russian Federation. The defense has denied the charges and has argued that the soldiers were acting in self-defense.
In reality, these men and women, were bravely defending their country on their own land from the invading forces of Russian Federation. I am not fully educated on Russian judicial laws and legal procedures (or if such even exist during the stone age of RF), but I am completely confused on how Rostov court system got any jurisdiction and judicial power to "hear" cases of "alleged crimes" commited by the foreign citizens inside their own country. If this doesn't make a local Ivan scratch his head and think, I am not sure what else would.
Eight of the defendants are women who worked as cooks for the Azov battalion. The other 14 defendants are men who served in the battalion's infantry and special forces units.
The trial is expected to last several months. The verdict is likely to be closely watched by Russian citizens. Russian propaganda machine will use this 'court case" use as a distraction of public opinion, from the military failures, shortcomings of Russia Military of Defense and the internal conflicts inside the country.
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