A Kiev district court heard charges against a captured Russian soldier on Wednesday, as the country’s first war crimes trial of symbolic importance gathers pace.
The Russian soldier is accused of murder and of “violating the laws and customs of war” under Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Vadim Shishimarin, 21, pleaded “fully” guilty on Wednesday and will face life in prison.
In a detailed description of the incidents, the prosecutor told the court that Shishimarin, along with four other servants, stole a vehicle to hide from shelling by Ukrainian forces. The group drove to the village of Chupakhivka, where they found an unarmed villager riding a bicycle and talking on his cell phone.
“Under the impression that the civilian intended to report them to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, one of the soldiers ordered Shishimarin to kill the civilian,” the prosecutor said.
Citing Articles 50 and 51 of the 1949 Geneva Convention, the prosecutor accused Shishimarin of repeatedly firing a Kalashnikov rifle through the car’s rear window, hitting the victim in the head.
“The victim died of fractured skull injuries after the five soldiers left the scene of the crime,” the prosecutor declared. After days of hiding, the group eventually surrendered to local residents, the accuser added.
The trial was postponed to Thursday (19) as many media workers were filling the room.
Judges will hear Shishimarin’s testimony on Thursday, as well as that of the victim’s widow. Two other witnesses will testify on behalf of the prosecution, including a Russian soldier present at the scene.
This is the first war crimes trial established since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24. The promoter expects many more to happen. To date, more than 12,000 alleged war crimes have been registered by Ukrainian authorities.
War crimes cases can also be tried in international courts, in longer proceedings.
Source: CNN Brasil
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