After the Russians captured Azovstal, 28-year-old Arkadiusz D. expressed his satisfaction on social media with the losses of the Azov regiment defending Ukrainian Mariupol and added the letter “Z”. He was convicted by a court of praising Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
The District Court in Opole sentenced Arkadiusz D. to five months' imprisonment, suspended for one year, and probation supervision. The judgment is not final.
May 22, 2022, two days after the fall of Mariupol to Ukrainedefended by the Azov Regiment, he expressed satisfaction with the unit's losses on his social media profile. He “decorated” his entry by adding the letter “Z”, which is a symbol of Russian aggression.
He pleaded not guilty
During the trial, Arkariusz D. admitted to posting the entry. In his opinion, it was only a form of defining private views and assessing events in Ukraine. He stressed that he did not feel guilty and did not intend to change his views regardless of the court's verdict.
According to the prosecutor, the accused's act met the elements of the crime of praising an aggressive war Russia and demanded for Arkadiusz D. a five-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and probation supervision.
On Tuesday, the accused did not appear at the announcement of the verdict.
Main photo source: Adobe Stock