The Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General have documented war crimes committed by Oleg Terentyev, a judge at Russia’s Southern District Military Court. He unlawfully sentenced a Ukrainian serviceman to imprisonment in a Russian penal colony without grounds.
This was reported by the SBU.
According to the investigation, Terentyev unjustifiably handed down a sentence of imprisonment in a Russian penal colony to a Ukrainian serviceman. Law enforcement officers found that he presided over court proceedings built on fabricated accusations.
The SBU stresses that such a decision violates international humanitarian law. Under these rules, a serviceman who is taken captive acquires prisoner-of-war status and is not subject to imprisonment merely for taking part in hostilities.
On the basis of the evidence collected, SBU investigators served Oleg Terentyev with a notice of suspicion in absentia under Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – for war crimes, including violation of the requirements of Article 99 of the Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 12 August 1949.
As the suspect is on Russian territory, measures are ongoing to bring him to justice.
The pre-trial investigation was conducted under the procedural supervision of the Office of the Prosecutor General.
- Russia’s Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced two captured Azov fighters to 19 and 20 years in a penal colony respectively.