Nikita Uvarov, 16, from the city of Kansk in the Kranoyarsk region, was sentenced by a military court to five years in prison and fined 30,000 rubles for training in terrorism, while two of his friends were acquitted of terrorism charges. Three and four years in prison suspended on charges of making and possessing explosives (with a two-year surveillance period), the Novaya Gazeta newspaper wrote today in an article entitled “Save the Children” with the subtitle: “The sentence “Nikita Uvarov was sent to prison for five years. Some recommendations to Russian parents.”
The accusations against the three teenagers were based on their actions related to the well-known electronic game Minecraft. Uvarov was taken into custody in the courtroom, according to the head of the Agora human rights group, Pavel Tsikov, and broadcast by Echo Moskvi radio station. The other two teenagers were released and acquitted because they cooperated with the investigation, while the prosecutor’s office had requested the imposition of sentences of six, six and nine years in prison.
The case of the three teenagers became widely known and became known as the “case of the explosion of the FSB building in Minecraft”, meaning that the three students had similar plans which they discussed by correspondence on social media, which are mentioned in the case file.
The three students were 14 years old when they were arrested in 2020. They were arrested for handing out leaflets in support of Azat Miftahov, a student suspected of making an explosive device, who was sentenced in January 2021 to six years in prison. One of the notices was found in the FSB building.
When they were arrested, they took the phones from the children, gained access to their correspondence, in which they wrote negative comments about the Russian government and the security forces. At the same time, the three students in the Minecraft video game built the FSB building and “planned to blow it up as a joke”.
The interrogation also gained access to videos showing teenagers setting fire to abandoned buildings and firing crackers. They have since been accused of being trained to carry out terrorist activities.
Uvarov’s apology was published in the Novaya Gazeta newspaper. In it he describes his life, the school where he attended and the acquaintance with his other co-accused.
He describes how they talked about politics on the internet and criticized the government. “I was hurt by the fact that people in my country are being persecuted, citizens, activists, who want the good of the country and defend its prosperity. Now, unfortunately, I have experienced first-hand the despotism of the system’s ruthless collaborators,” said the 16-year-old who had already been remanded in custody for 11 months.
Uvarov spoke about the first days of his detention and the methods of pressure exerted on him and his relatives by security officers at the detention center. He described as “fabricated” some reports from his personal correspondence with the main witness in the case: “I never wrote to P. that I was planning and preparing to blow up someone, because I was not planning anything and I was not preparing anyone.”
At the first court hearing, Uvarov said: “I am a child who wanted to make friends and communicate with his friends. I am not a terrorist.” He repeated this phrase in his apology, in which he said, among other things: “If I am convicted, I will serve my sentence with a clear conscience and dignity.”
Source: ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ
Source: Capital
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
