Mikhail Shvets was sentenced to 22 years in prison. He was found guilty of mistreating civilians. Photo: video frame of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation.
The Supreme Court of the Donetsk People’s Republic sentenced Mikhail Shvets, a soldier of the Russian-banned National Azov Regiment, to 22 years in prison. He was found guilty of ill-treatment of the civilian population and use of prohibited methods in armed conflict, as well as a murder motivated by hatred and political and ideological enmity.
“The investigation established that from March 19 to 25, 2022, Shvets, together with other military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was in a position with the provisional name of “Thanos”, in an apartment building in the city of Mariupol. Approximately 250 meters from their position, a man and a woman in civilian clothes with white bands on their sleeves were walking towards the square. It follows from the testimony of the convicted person that, in his opinion, white armbands are worn by civilians who take a pro-Russian position and support a special military operation, as well as people who stand in solidarity with civilians who suffered and died at the hands of personnel. military of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” said the official representative of the Investigative Committee of Russia Svetlana Petrenko.
Shvets explained during the investigation that he suddenly felt hostility towards a married couple from Mariupol and decided that if he saw them again, he would kill the man. After some time, these citizens began to return. When they were near the pharmacy, Shvets grabbed an AK-74 and fired two shots in his direction, targeting the man. The man and woman fell to the ground, then the man rose to his feet. The Ukrainian soldier fired 3 more shots at her, the woman jumped up and ran behind the pharmacy building.
“Three citizens without bandages, in civilian clothes, approached the man lying on the ground and removed his body behind the pharmacy. Since the people did not have white armbands, I did not shoot them,” Shvets explained.
During the trial, it emerged that the suspect tried to cover up the murder.
From the case file: “From April 10 to 17, 2022, Shvets, while on the territory of the Azovstal plant in the city of Mariupol, learned from his colleagues that in a few days his unit would be forced to leave the territory of the plant and delivery. In that sense, he doused his machine gun with gasoline and set it on fire.
But Shvets’ guilt was confirmed by a body of evidence, including witness testimony, as well as his confession.
*Terrorist organization banned in Russia
