On January 16, the Rozdolne district court of the occupied Crimea, controlled by the Kremlin, has sentenced Ukrainian activist Volodymyr Balukh, accused of ammunition storage, to three years and seven months of penal settlement and $177 fine. This is reported by Krym.Realii.
Earlier, the Russian prosecutor asked 5 years and 1 month of imprisonment with serving in a penal settlement and paying $355 fine for the accused.
During his closing speech at a meeting on January 15, Balukh stated that the case against him was "fabricated in connection with his political position" and this wound not make him love "new Homeland".
The FSB of Russia detained Volodymyr Balukh on December 8, 2016. Employees of the FSB claimed that they found 90 rounds and several TNT blocks in the attic of house, where Volodymyr Balukh lives.
In August 2017, the court sentenced the Ukrainian activist to three years and seven months of the standard regime penal colony, as well as $177 fine. Balukh's verdict was canceled during the appeal hearing. The case was sent for reconsideration.
On December 1, the Rozdolne district court changed the pre-trial restriction to the Ukrainian activist for house arrest for two months.
The defender of Balukh and human rights defenders believe that he was a victim of repression for his pro-Ukrainian position – because of the flag of Ukraine, which was in the courtyard of his house.