Russia’s Southern District Military Court sentenced four defendants in a case involving bombings in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian city of Melitopol to prison terms ranging from 25 years to life, Mediazona, whose correspondent attended the hearing, reported.
Igor Garanin, 38, was sentenced to life imprisonment. Sergei Garkusha, 54, Sergei Yevtushenko, 58, and Yelena Roy, 46, each received 25-year sentences. The three men are to spend the first five years of their sentences in prison.
Russian investigators alleged that in 2022–2023 the defendants, acting on instructions from Ukrainian intelligence services, organized assassination attempts against officials cooperating with the Russian occupation authorities in Melitopol.
Depending on their alleged roles, the defendants faced charges including participation in a “terrorist community,” illegal possession and manufacture of explosives, a terrorist attack resulting in a death and preparation of terrorist attacks.
All four defendants said they signed confessions under torture. There has been no court ruling establishing that torture took place.
In his final statement, Garanin said he was a Ukrainian citizen, had been mobilized into the Ukrainian military and was sent to Melitopol to carry out intelligence assignments under orders from his command. Russian prosecutors characterized his actions differently.
Melitopol has been under Russian occupation since 2022.