Arbitrary sentencing in occupied Zaporizhia region: Residents facing long prison terms, says Ivan Fedorov

Recent reports indicate a troubling trend in the temporarily occupied Zaporizhia region, where local residents are facing lengthy prison sentences of 10 to 20 years for alleged terrorist activities. 

Ivan Fedorov, head of the Zaporizhia Oblast Military Administration, disclosed this alarming situation during a briefing at Media Center Ukraine.

“The enemy is convicting our residents on a massive scale without any grounds,” Fedorov stated. “In just the last few weeks, we have observed numerous cases where residents were sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison under the pretext of terrorism. This represents a significant problem, as the enemy is effectively enslaving our residents without justification, capturing them, and then fabricating accusations of terrorist activities. Based on these false claims, they proceed to issue suspicions and convict our residents in illegal courts. Today, this is the biggest threat and challenge we face.”

According to Fedorov, these actions are part of a broader strategy to instill fear and panic among the civilians. 

“When the enemy arrests our residents, it’s not merely about detaining a specific individual they deem a criminal; it’s about generating widespread panic. Their objective is to ensure that everyone else is fearful. Thus, when the enemy detains and convicts individuals, it primarily serves to intimidate the rest of the civilian population. This is the main goal and the overarching agenda driving the enemy’s operations in the temporary occupation,” he explained.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news