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Russia gives long jail terms to men who defended Mariupol

Members of Ukraine's former Azov Regiment captured in Mariupol in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, attend a court hearing in Rostov-On-Don, Russia, yesterday. Photo: Reuters

Members of Ukraine's former Azov Regiment captured in Mariupol in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, attend a court hearing in Rostov-On-Don, Russia, yesterday. Photo: Reuters

Mark Trevelyan in Rostov-on-Don

Today at 03:30

A Russian military court yesterday handed down long prison sentences to 12 members of Ukraine’s Azov regiment, which led the defence of the city of Mariupol in the early months of the war and is designated as a “terrorist organisation” by Russia.

The defendants, charged with “terrorist activity” and with “violently seizing or retaining power”, were sentenced to between 13 and 23 years in prison, Russian state media reported.

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