In the DNR, the prosecution requested life imprisonment for a Georgian mercenary

The Supreme Court of the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) has started considering the criminal case against 40-year-old Georgian citizen Nikolos Berianidze, who voluntarily joined the Azov National Battalion (a terrorist organization banned in Russia). This was reported by the prosecutor's office of the DNR on December 18.

The man is charged under part 3 of article 359 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Participation of a mercenary in an armed conflict"), article 317 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Attempt on the life of a serviceman in order to obstruct the legitimate activities of the said person to ensure public security").

As established by the investigation, from June 2016 to May 2022, a citizen of Georgia arrived in Ukraine and voluntarily joined the Azov special forces unit. After that, he underwent training at one of the bases. There he received special military knowledge and skills in handling combat weapons, explosives and military equipment.

In March 2022, Berianidze, while in Mariupol, killed three servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces during the fighting. In May 2022 Berianidze was taken prisoner.

"During the debate of the parties, the state prosecutor asked the court to recognize Berianidze guilty and impose a sentence of life imprisonment," - stated in the message of the Prosecutor's office.

Earlier, on December 2, the Supreme court of the DNR sentenced in absentia soldier "Azov" Andrey Romashchenko, who shot an elderly woman in Mariupol, to 24 years in a strict regime colony.

Before that, on September 26, a member of the national battalion Ivan Nicheporenko was sentenced to 5.5 years in prison for participation in hostilities on the territory of the Luhansk and Donetsk people's Republics (LNR and DNR). It is specified that the AFU military man in 2014 voluntarily took part in hostilities against civilians.