A Russian military court has sentenced a mobilized soldier to 23 years in prison for killing his fellow servicemen with a grenade while under the influence of alcohol, the state-run news agency TASS reported Wednesday.
Junior Sergeant Dmitry Lobovikov was said to be intoxicated when he threw a live grenade inside a sleeping quarter in southwestern Russia’s Belgorod region in January 2023. At least seven soldiers were killed and 16 others were wounded in the explosion and subsequent fire.
Moscow’s Second Western Military Garrison Court found Lobovikov guilty of murder, illegal storage of explosives and property damage, according to TASS. The news agency said the jury presiding over the case believed the defendant “deserved leniency.”
“He was sentenced to 23 years in a high-security prison colony, fined 70,000 rubles [$790] and stripped of his rank,” a court spokesperson was quoted as saying.
Prosecutors had requested a 24-year prison sentence for Lobovikov. His attorneys can appeal Wednesday’s sentencing before it enters into force.
Lobikov asked to be acquitted during the trial, with TASS reporting that the mobilized soldier said he had “no intention of killing his comrades” and blamed “stupidity and alcohol” for his actions.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
