Court in Novorossiysk sentences military to colony for refusing to go to SMO
Sergey Belim, a military serviceman has been sentenced to two years in penal colony for his refusal to take in the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine.
The Novorossiysk Garrison Military Court has found the 22-year-old Belim guilty of failing to follow an order "during the martial law, in wartime, or in conditions of an armed conflict or military action."
According to the court, on April 28 and May 31, 2023, Belim received orders from his command to depart to the SMO zone, but refused to take part in hostilities, "fearing for his life and health."
The amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation provide, during the mobilization, for the freedom deprivation for up to 10 years for unauthorized abandonment of one’s military unit or place of service. Human rights defenders assert that the tightening of the legislation after the announcement of mobilization has led to harsher sentences for absence from one’s military unit or desertion.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 5, 2025 at 02:05 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Source: Caucasian Knot