Russian soldier confesses to killing a Ukrainian civilian. This is the first trial of Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
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Behind a glass cage with handcuffs sits a 21-year-old Russian soldier. The stage is a Ukrainian courtroom. Vadim Shishimarin, 21, is accused of war crimes.
A few meters away sits the widow of a 62-year-old civilian who was killed while riding a bicycle in the suburb of Chubakivka. Wipe the tears. The man you are looking at confesses to killing her husband.
Tuesday’s trial is historic. It is the number one case of Russian war crimes in Ukraine. The interest is enormous. The number of journalists present means the rest of the case has been adjourned until Thursday. The case is covered by CNN, The New York Times and the BBC.
Stolen car – shoot a man on a bike
Shishimarin and four other soldiers were said to have stolen a car, drove to Chubakhivka and shot the 62-year-old while cycling, according to the British Guardian newspaper. BBC.
Chupakhivka is located in the Sumy region. There were many difficult battles in the area in the first phase of the war.
– Do you admit to a criminal offence, asked the prosecutor in court, according to the BBC.
– Yes, Shishimarin answered.
– completely?
– yes.
Shishimarin was leading a tank battalion when the row he was in was attacked. Then they must have escaped in the stolen car, according to the prosecutor in the case.
– He can’t be forgiven
“An event like no other.” This is how Prosecutor General Andrei Sinyuk described the trial in which a foreign soldier was accused of killing a civilian. He writes New York times.
The family of the 62-year-old was also present during the trial.
– I feel very sorry for him (Shishimarin, Diary.). But I cannot forgive him after this crime, 62-year-old widow Katerina Chelikova tells the BBC.
The Kremlin: organized
He faces life in prison if convicted. she has BBC previously written.
Russia says it is not aware of the Shishimarin case in Ukraine, according to CNN. They consider the accusations “unacceptable”, “outrageous” and “fabricated”. This was said by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. It’s reports CNN.
40 suspects
Ukraine has opened 11,000 war crimes cases. 40 suspects. This is what the state lawyer Irina Venediktova wrote in Ukraine Twitter.
At least 3,380 civilians have been killed in Ukraine, according to United nations. In Botsja alone, 350 bodies were found. There are 500 suspects. In early April, mass killings, torture, looting and rape were reported in Potsja. Then Russia controlled the city for more than a month. The suburb is located outside the capital, Kyiv.
Venediktova wrote on Twitter that this first trial sends a signal that no one should escape responsibility.
The International Criminal Court in The Hague is investigating war crimes committed by Russia. Moscow has consistently denied attacks on civilians.
Norway also contributes to the ICC investigation.
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