Russia Sentences Mariupol Man to 18 Years for Alleged Treason Without Independent Probe

A 55-year-old resident of Mariupol, Andrii Lazarenko, was sentenced to 18 years in a high-security prison by a court in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on charges of alleged “treason,” despite the lack of any independent investigation,

This was reported by the legitimate Ukrainian Mariupol City Council on December 12.

The occupation court accused Lazarenko of allegedly “contacting the Ukrainian Armed Forces” and “agreeing to set fire to a military recruitment office in Mordovia.” However, “the FSB detained him at the scene of the fire.” The report also emphasized that no independent investigation had been conducted.

According to the Mariupol City Council, citing Occupation Studies Center, Lazarenko claimed he was arrested at home, taken to a detention center, and coerced into writing a confession under threats and pressure. His defense also stated that Lazarenko was set up by an acquaintance who had a smartphone and used a SIM card registered in Lazarenko's name.

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The city council noted that Lazarenko had lived in Mariupol his entire life and stayed there after the Russian invasion and occupation began.

In the summer of 2022, he helped four women escape the occupation, but upon his return, the Russian authorities blocked his entry.

In November 2022, Lazarenko was forced to accept Russian citizenship and obtain a Russian passport.

Earlier, a Russian court handed down a 22-year prison sentence to Valerii Yeremeyev, a defender of Mariupol, on charges of a fabricated crime, namely the supposed “execution of a civilian.”

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