Tuesday, 24 October ‘23

This week’s overview of key events and links to essential reading.

Tuesday, 24 October ‘23

This week’s overview of key events and links to essential reading.

Tuesday, 24 October, 2023
IWPR

IWPR

Institute for War & Peace Reporting

Life Sentence for Woman Convicted of Treason

A 22-year-old resident of the Kirovohrad region has been sentenced to life in prison for treason.

According to the investigation, the woman cooperated with representatives of the special services of the Russian Federation and was paid some UAH 150,000 (4,000 US dollars) for collecting and information about military and critical infrastructure facilities in the Kirovohrad and Poltava regions. 

She was detained at the beginning of 2023 while photographing a defence installation. 

According to the prosecutor's office, she has filed a request to be included in a prisoner exchange.

Appeal Rejected in Torture Verdict

Russian soldier Ancha Ondar had the appeal against his 12-year sentence for cruel treatment of the civilian population in a village in the Chernihiv region rejected. 

On July 17, the Ripkinsky District Court found him guilty in absentia for offences under Part 1 of Article 438 of the criminal code of Ukraine.

His defence lawyer did not dispute the actual circumstances of the crime or proof of guilt, but had asked for the sentence to be reduced to eight years in prison. 

On September 28, the Chernihiv Court of Appeal rejected his submission which means that the verdict has entered into legal force, although it can be appealed in cassation within three months.

Crimes Against Journalists

Law enforcement officers are currently investigating 19 cases related to the murders of journalists by Russians on the territory of Ukraine during the full-scale invasion, according to the Office of the Prosecutor General.

The office was responding to a request by the Institute of Mass Information (IMI) concerning the status of investigations into the murders of journalists who died in the course of their professional duties or as civilian victims of shelling.

The prosecutor's office said that 17 proceedings under Part 2 of Art. 438 of the criminal code concerning the violation of the laws and customs of war had been initiated.

According to IMI, 67 journalists have been killed since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, ten while performing their professional duties. IMI monitoring has logged 536 crimes against the media and journalists in Ukraine since late February 2022.

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