Captured Ukrainians convicted as terrorists

Mourners hold smoke flares as Ukrainian soldiers carry the coffin of Ukrainian serviceman Oleksandr Oliinyk in Kyiv. Pic/AFP

Russia on Wednesday convicted 23 captured Ukrainians on terrorism charges stemming from the fighting in Ukraine in a trial that Kyiv denounced as a sham and a violation of international law. The defendants included 14 current or former fighters of the elite Azov brigade, which Russia designated a terrorist group, and nine women and one man who worked as cooks or support personnel, according to Russian media reports and rights activists.

Twelve defendants were not in court - 11 returned to Ukraine in two prisoner exchanges and were convicted in absentia; one died in custody last year, with the case being dropped later.

All had been charged with staging a violent coup and organising terrorist activities. Some faced an additional charge of training to carry out terrorist activities.

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