This Alexander Zhukov, from Melitopol. One from 5.
Five Ukrainian men from the city of Melitopol have gone on trial in Russia accused of plotting acts of terrorism. Their Russian lawyers say the charges have no foundation, and they’ve been tortured.
Five men from the occupied Ukrainian city of Melitopol have gone on trial in Rostov-on-Don, accused of involvement in a underground terrorist group. Known as the Melitopol Five, the men were all taken from their homes in Ukraine by occupying Russian forces and forcibly transferred to Russia. Their lawyers say the charges against them have no basis and that the men have been subjected to torture. The men deny the charges and say they did not even know each other prior to their detention
https://bbcrussian.substack.com/p/melitopol-five-russia-charges-with-terror-plot?utm_medium=reader2
Russia doing sham trials? Sadly that is something everyone is used to by now. Truly insane and shameful.
I’m surprised they were even given lawyers
The defenders of Mariupol saved Ukraine,. They tied up Russia’s resources for so long that they changed the course of the war. Resources that would instead have been used to invade & occupy rest of Ukraine. Every one of them is a hero of Ukraine and of Europe.
Russia’s starvation, torture, and sham trial of them is a picture of Russia’s defeat at the hands of Mariupol’s defenders. By their deaths & their lives they continue to tell Russians who the true victors are.
