Life Sentences for Defendants in Crimean Bridge Explosion Case, Including Armenians

The Southern District Military Court of Rostov-on-Don has sentenced eight detainees to life imprisonment for their involvement in the Crimean Bridge explosion case from October 2022.

A total of 13 individuals, including citizens from Russia, Armenia, and Ukraine, are being accused in this case. The sentenced individuals are: Artyom Azatyan, Georgi Azatyan, Oleg Antipov, Alexander Bilin, Vladimir Zloba, Dmitry Tyazhelikh, Roman Solomkon, and Arthur Terchanian. They have been charged with organizing terrorist activities and transporting explosive materials, whereas Solomkon and Terchanian also face charges of smuggling explosive substances.

The trial has been conducted behind closed doors, with the prosecution seeking life sentences for all eight defendants. The accused have denied the charges, stating they were unaware of the nature of the transported cargo.

It is important to note that the explosion on the Crimean Bridge occurred on October 8, 2022, resulting from the detonation of a truck loaded with explosives, which caused several sections of the bridge to collapse, leading to the deaths of the truck driver and four passengers in a nearby vehicle.