Russia accused two Ukrainian teenagers of “sabotage” – they face up to 20 years behind bars

On April 25, it became known that the russian federation is accusing two Ukrainian teenagers of “sabotage”, they may face 10 to 20 years in prison. Earlier, one of the boys was abducted, he was tortured with electric current. This was reported by the “Media Initiative for Human Rights” (MIHR).

According to the MIHR, on May 24, 2023, 16-year-old teenagers from the temporarily occupied Berdiansk, Tihran Ohannisian and Mykyta Khanhanov, were charged by the Investigative Committee of the russian federation with allegedly preparing sabotage on the railway. They are accused of allegedly “violating” Article 281 of the criminal code of the russian federation, which provides for 10 to 20 years of imprisonment.

The investigator notes that the boys conspired to provide support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in early September 2022. They allegedly “damaged the railway tracks in order not to allow the russian armed forces to receive material support”.

“We may assume that the kids will soon be arrested and placed on a show trial, which is planned to be organized by the russian authorities seconded to Berdiansk”, —human rights defenders wrote.

Since September 2022, Tihran and Mykyta were pursued by representatives of russian “law enforcement agencies”. Later, Tihran was abducted from the house where he lived with his grandmother. The whereabouts of the child were not known for five days.

“At the same time, Tihran was brutally interrogated by the “investigative authorities” and subjected to beatings and electric shocks. The investigators demanded that the boy confess that he was preparing a sabotage at the “Melitopol Railway”, which was supposed to prevent units of the russian armed forces from obtaining the material and technical base for their military operations in Ukraine”, — MIHR wrote.

After publicity in the media, Tihran was released. Both boys were obliged to come to investigators daily and participate in so-called investigative activities — interrogations, investigative experiments, etc.

Local lawyers were appointed for the children, who do not provide protection due to pressure and intimidation in the russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.

All those involved in the persecution of Tihran Ohannisian and Mykyta Khanhanov, including the leadership of the Investigative Committee of the russian federation and the highest military and political leadership of russia, should be held criminally responsible, as well as subjected to severe sanctions in all countries of the civilized world, where the rule of law and human rights are priority.