A show trial in occupied Donetsk. 25 years of gulags for a soldier of the Azov Regiment

A soldier of the Ukrainian Azov Regiment, Andriy Bohdan was sentenced to 25 years in prison by a "court" in Russian-occupied Donetsk. Bohdan has been in Russian captivity since May 2022, his whereabouts are unknown.

The unlawful sentence was passed on August 14. Earlier, in the part of Donbas occupied by Russia, the local "courts" had passed long-term sentences against Ukrainian prisoners who were taken prisoner.

The mother of the convicted soldier learned about the sentence from social media. 23-year-old Bohdan was among the defenders of the Azovstal metallurgical plant in Mariupol and in May 2022 he was taken prisoner by the Russians.

Defenders of Azovstal

The Azov Regiment of the National Guard of Ukraine took part in the defense of the Mariupol plant on the Sea of Azov. After months of very heavy fighting, in May 2022, the defenders who formed the last line of defense in the Azovstal plant were ordered to lay down their arms. More than 2 500 people were taken prisoner, including soldiers of the Azov regiment, the 36th Independent Marine Brigade and other formations.

In March this year the media and the families of the defenders of Azovstal spoke of almost 2 000 prisoners still in Russian captivity. Among them are to be about 700 soldiers of the Azov regiment. Some defenders of Mariupol regained their freedom as part of the exchange.

Recently, Azov is a brigade.

International conventions prohibit the trial, detention and sentence of prisoners of war. Russia, however, claims that Azov are not soldiers, but terrorists. Despite the fact that Azov functions as part of the National Guard of Ukraine, which is subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. There are also other National Guard volunteer units.