FSB: 39 people in 17 Russian regions jailed for 10 to 26 years over arson and sabotage
In short
Russian courts have sentenced 39 people from 17 regions to prison terms of 10 to 26 years for setting fire to aircraft, transport and communications facilities and planning sabotage on railway infrastructure on the instructions of Ukrainian special services, the Public Relations Center of Russia's FSB said. According to the FSB, the convicts were recruited in Telegram groups offering quick earnings, and after completing tasks their handlers blocked their accounts or paid far less than promised.
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Russian courts have sentenced 39 people from 17 regions of the country to prison terms of between 10 and 26 years, the Public Relations Center of the Federal Security Service (FSB) said. According to the statement, the convicts set fire to aircraft, transport and communications facilities and planned sabotage on railway infrastructure on the instructions of Ukrainian special services. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
"The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, together with the Investigative Committee of Russia and the Interior Ministry of Russia, has stopped the activity of 39 persons from 17 subjects of the Russian Federation who committed arson of aircraft, transport and communications facilities and planned sabotage on railway infrastructure on the instructions of Ukrainian special services," the center said, as quoted by Interfax. "In court, the said persons were found guilty of the crimes charged and sentenced to imprisonment for terms of 10 to 26 years," the statement said, according to RIA Novosti. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
RIA Novosti reported that the 39 people were born between 1995 and 2010. Kommersant described them as citizens aged 15 to 30. [ 2 , 4 ]
The FSB said the convicts were recruited by the adversary in Telegram groups for finding quick earnings. "Maintaining contact with the enemy special service, they counted on easy money, but after completing the tasks the handlers blocked their accounts or transferred a reward significantly smaller than the promised sum," the statement said. Recruiters offer a large fee, help in avoiding criminal liability and assistance in leaving the country, but never keep their promises, the FSB stressed, according to RIA Novosti. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Interfax reported that the criminal cases were opened and investigated under Criminal Code articles covering treason, terrorist acts, assisting terrorist activity, participation in the activity of a terrorist organisation, sabotage, attempted sabotage, undergoing training for sabotage activity and laundering of money or other property obtained by others through crime. The guilt of the convicts was fully proven in the course of the investigation, the agency reported. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The FSB statement, carried by official and business outlets, presents the sentences as the result of a joint operation with the Investigative Committee and Interior Ministry across 17 regions. The agency used the announcement to warn that recruiters promising money, help in avoiding prosecution and assistance in leaving the country do not keep their promises.
Key facts
- Courts sentenced 39 people from 17 Russian regions to prison terms of 10 to 26 years, the FSB Public Relations Center said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- They were convicted of setting fire to aircraft, transport and communications facilities and planning sabotage on railway infrastructure on the instructions of Ukrainian special services, according to the FSB. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The FSB said the activity was stopped jointly with the Investigative Committee and the Interior Ministry. [ 3 , 4 ]
- RIA Novosti reported the convicts were born between 1995 and 2010; Kommersant described them as aged 15 to 30. [ 2 , 4 ]
- The FSB said they were recruited in Telegram groups for finding quick earnings and that handlers later blocked their accounts or paid much less than promised. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Charges included treason, terrorist acts, sabotage, attempted sabotage, training for sabotage and money laundering under the Russian Criminal Code, Interfax reported. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- 39 people from 17 Russian regions were sentenced to 10 to 26 years in prison, the FSB Public Relations Center said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The FSB said they set fire to aircraft, transport and communications facilities and planned sabotage on railway infrastructure on the instructions of Ukrainian special services. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The FSB said they were recruited in groups offering quick earnings and that handlers blocked their accounts or paid less than promised after tasks were completed. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The operation was conducted jointly with the Investigative Committee and the Interior Ministry, the FSB said. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The exact ages of the convicts RIA Novosti gives birth years of 1995 to 2010, while Kommersant states ages of 15 to 30; the documents do not say how the figures were derived.
- When and where the individual sentences were handed down The documents give only the overall range of sentences and the number of regions, with no dates or specific courts.
- The full list of criminal charges Only Interfax lists the Criminal Code articles under which the cases were investigated.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS reports the FSB statement that 39 people were sentenced to 10 to 26 years for arson of aircraft, transport and communications facilities. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti reports that the 39 convicts come from 17 regions and were recruited in Telegram groups. [ 2 ]
- Interfax and Kommersant publish further details, including the Criminal Code articles and the involvement of the Investigative Committee and Interior Ministry. [ 3 , 4 ]