Court recognizes life sentences for RDK founder Kapustin and actor Kanakhin as legal

The Military Court of Appeal has declared lawful the life imprisonment sentence in absentia imposed on Denis Kapustin, founder of the Russian Volunteer Corps (an organization recognized in Russia as a terrorist organization and banned), and actor Kirill Kanakhin (both are on the Russian Federation's list of extremists and terrorists), accused of invading the Bryansk region in March 2023.

As reported by the agency "RIA Novosti" with reference to representatives of the court, the appeal complaints of the defense lawyers were not satisfied, and the verdict remained unchanged.

It is specified that the court satisfied the civil claims of the victims for a total of 10 million rubles, as well as claims of the local branch of the Rosgvardiya and other organizations for 3.5 million rubles.

Earlier, November 14, the court sentenced Kapustin and Kanakhin to life imprisonment in absentia. It was noted that Kapustin also has to pay Br2 million 500 thousand fine, in addition, he is banned from administering websites for four years. The convict will first have to spend eight years in a colony, and further - to be under a special regime.

Kanakhin was fined 2 million rubles and banned from administering websites for four years. He will also spend the first eight years in a colony, and further - a special regime. The same measures were taken against two other defendants - Alexei Ogurtsov and Anton Zyryanov (included in the Russian Federation in the list of extremists and terrorists).

On March 2, 2023, a group of Ukrainian saboteurs, including the five named defendants, opened fire on a car and took several people hostage in the village of Lyubechane in the Bryansk region. Two people were killed in the attack, a child was also injured and two border guards were wounded. Russian President Vladimir Putin called what happened a terrorist attack.

In April, Moscow 's Basmanny court arrested Kapustin in absentia. He was charged with a number of crimes. Later, on November 16, Kapustin was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment. He is on an international wanted list.