Occupiers in Crimea fined four Uzbek citizens for criticizing the war

In the temporarily occupied city of Simferopol, an occupation court fined four Uzbek citizens 35,000 rubles (approximately $380) each under a charge of “discrediting the Russian Federation’s armed forces.” 

The incident occurred while the men were at the “Artek” children’s camp, where, according to preliminary reports, they were working as local laborers. 

The occupying authorities issued the court ruling on June 16 after reviewing political statements the defendants made in the presence of several Russian citizens. Case materials indicate that Uzbek citizens Rakhimjon Zh., brothers Valijon and Olimjon K., and Ilesjon E. made emotional remarks directed at the Russian invaders during a conversation.

The Russian investigation brought identical charges against all four defendants for their public statements expressing a lack of understanding of the purpose of the so-called “special military operation.” The workers also openly expressed joy over the successful actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in eliminating Russian soldiers and stated that the Ukrainian army would soon liberate the Crimean Peninsula.

This was reported by Ostorozhno, Novosti.

Earlier, on June 16, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don handed down sentences to two Ukrainian prisoners of war from the “Azov” battalion, sentencing them to 17 and 20 years of imprisonment in a penal colony.

Russia has handed down yet another round of sentences to Ukrainian prisoners of war. The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced six defenders of Ukraine to terms ranging from 12 to 19 years in a strict-regime penal colony.