The Supreme Court of the Donetsk People’s Republic sentenced Mikhail Shvets, a soldier of the Azov National Regiment banned in Russia, to 22 years in prison. He was found guilty of ill-treatment of the civilian population and the use of prohibited methods in armed conflict, as well as a murder motivated by political and ideological hatred and enmity.
“The investigation established that from March 19 to March 25, 2022, Shvets, together with other military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was at a position with the provisional name “Thanos”, in an apartment building in the city of Mariupol. Approximately 250 meters from his 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 convict 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 the military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” she said. official representative of the Russian Investigative Committee 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 took an AK-74 and fired two single shots in their direction, aiming at the man. The man and woman fell to the ground, then the man stood up. The Ukrainian soldier fired 3 more single aimed shots at him, the woman abruptly stood up and ran behind the pharmacy building.
“Three citizens without any bandages, dressed 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 at them,” Shvets explained.
During the trial, it became known that the suspect tried to cover up the murder.
From the case file: “From April 10 to April 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 their unit would be forced to leave the territory of the plant and surrender. In this regard, he doused his machine gun with gasoline and set it on fire.
But the guilt of Shvets was confirmed by a body of evidence, including the testimony of witnesses, as well as his confession.
*Terrorist organization banned in Russia
