Verdict to Sochi resident Schus upheld

The appellate court has refused to change the sentence passed to Alexei Schus, a Sochi engineer, convicted on charges of spreading fake news about the Russian Army and making a slingshot.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that this January, the court sentenced Alexei Schus to 5.5 years in colony, finding him guilty of spreading fake news about the Russian Army motivated by hatred and of making a weapon. Alexei and his relatives hoped for an acquittal, and his 81-year-old father has doubted that he would be able to wait for his son's release.

The Krasnodar Territorial Court has considered an appeal complaint against the verdict that found Alexei Schus guilty, the United Press Service of the courts of the Krasnodar Territory has reported in its Telegram channel.

Let us remind you that Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation was introduced on March 4, 2022, after the start of the Russian special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine. This article contradicts the Russian Constitution and the basic principles of the law, the “Memorial” Centre for Human Rights Defence (CHRD)* has stated.

"The wording of the article does not allow defining in advance which statements are lawful and which are prohibited," human rights defenders have emphasized.

*As reported on the website of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the reason for including on March 1, 2024, the unregistered "Memorial" Centre for Human Rights Defence (CHRD) into the roster of foreign agents was the spread of "inaccurate information aimed at creating a negative image of the Russian Federation, as well as the Russian Armed Forces."