Kyiv jails Russian soldier for life in 1st war crime trial
KYIV: A court in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv sentenced a Russian soldier to life in prison on Monday for killing an unarmed civilian in the first war crimes trial arising from Russia’s invasion.
Vadim Shishimarin, a 21-yearold tank commander, had pleaded guilty to killing 62-yearold Oleksandr Shelipov in the northeastern Ukrainian village of Chupakhivka on February 28, four days after the invasion.
“The court has found that (Vadim) Shishimarin is guilty and sentences him to life imprisonment,” judge Sergiy Agafonov said. He was also found guilty of premeditated murder. “The murder was committed with direct intent,” the judge said.
“Given that the crime committed is a crime against peace, security, humanity and the international legal order ... the court does not see the possibility of imposing a (shorter) sentence,” judge Agafonov said.
Shishimarin watched the proceedings silently from a reinforced glass box in the courtroom and showed no emotion as the verdict was read out. He stood with head bowed, listening to a translator, Reuters reported.
Shishmarin’s lawyer, Viktor Ovsyannikov, said he was not surprised by the sentence because there had been “certain pressure from society” and said he would launch a legal appeal.
“This is the most severe sentence...I will ask for the cancellation of the court’s verdict”, Ovsyannikov said.
Prosecutor Andriy Syniuk said the ruling was fair.
The Kremlin did not immediately comment on the verdict , but it said before the sentencing that while it was “concerned” over Shishimarin’s fate, it was unable provide on-the-ground assistance because there is no Russian diplomatic presence in Ukraine. “That doesn’t mean we won’t try through other channels. The fate of every Russian citizen is of paramount importance to us,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
The trial, which began only last week, has huge symbolic significance for Ukraine as it has accused Russia of atrocities against civilians during the invasion, and said it has identified over 10,000 possible war crimes. Russia has denied the charges.
Ukrainian state prosecutors said Shishimarin and four other Russian servicemen escaped to Chupakhivka after their column was targeted by Ukrainian forces. After reaching Chupakhivka, they saw Shelipov riding a bicycle. Shishimarin was ordered to kill Shelipov to prevent him reporting on their location. In court last week, Shishimarin admitted to the crime and asked the victim’s widow to forgive him.
“If this is the baseline trial ... it sets the bar very high,” Mark Ellis, executive director of the International Bar Association said. “For most other war crimes cases in Ukraine I suspect we’ll see similar sentences”.