Vladimir Belkovich
THE STUDENT WAS SENTENCEDTO
13 YEARS IN IMPRISONMENT
A resident of the city of Tulun (Irkutsk region, Russia), student Vladimir Belkovich was arrested while distributing leaflets containing prohibited symbols and paraphernalia. The leaflets depicted a white-blue-white flag and the inscription “Freedom of Russia.” Belkovic was sentenced to 13 years in prison for high treason, inducing a person to commit terrorism and attempted participation in a terrorist organization. At the court hearing, Belkovich admitted his guilt.
The white-blue-white flag was originally used by protesters against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Later, members of the “Freedom of Russia” legion began to place it on their sleeves. This is a military unit of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, formed mainly from Russian volunteers. In March 2023, the Russian Supreme Court declared the organization “terrorist” and banned its activities. Russians are often brought to administrative responsibility for the white-blue-white flag as “terrorist symbols.”
In 2023, at least 20 criminal cases were opened in Russia regarding connections with the Freedom of Russia Legion. Such cases are opened under articles on calls for terrorism, sabotage, treason, participation in an armed formation for purposes contrary to the interests of the Russian Federation and cooperation with a foreign state on a confidential basis. Information about these cases is mainly disseminated by security forces. Their messages often talk about tasks allegedly received by the defendants through telegram correspondence: arson, distributing leaflets or transmitting data. Most often, in such cases, we are talking exclusively about the intention to commit such actions. In total, at the moment, more than 900 people have become defendants in criminal cases initiated due to protest against the war with Ukraine.
(According to materials from OVD-Info)